Tennessee football running back Star Thomas is getting a chance to show what he can bring to the table in front of NFL coaches. Following the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday, Thomas was invited to rookie minicamp with the in-state Tennessee Titans, Matt Zenitz reported.
Thomas just completed his lone season with the Vols, where he exhausted his eligibility. During the year, he was typically the second-string back behind DeSean Bishop. He posted 596 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 104 attempts. He also caught 11 passes for 116 yards and two scores.
Prior to UT, Thomas played the 2024 season at Duke. There, he was the starting back for the final 10 games, posting 871 yards on 213 carries with seven touchdowns. He earned the additional year of eligibility to use at Tennessee due to the junior college ruling that was sparked by Diego Pavia. That rule also gave eligibility to Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar and tight end Miles Kitselman.
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Before playing for Duke, Thomas spent a pair of seasons at New Mexico State, alongside Pavia. In 2023, he was named to the All-Conference USA Second-Team. Prior to that, he played a pair of junior college seasons at Coffeyville CC.
Thomas is from Homer, Louisiana, where he played for Homer High School. There, he was a four-year all-conference selection as a running back, earning all-state honors as a junior and senior. He also played basketball.
During the 2026 NFL Draft, Tennessee saw five players hear their names called. This included four on the defensive side of the ball. The group was cornerback Colton Hood in the second round, wide receiver Chris Brazzell in the third, cornerback Jermod McCoy in the fourth, edge rusher Joshua Josephs in the fifth and defensive end Tyre West in the seventh.
