Josh Heupel: Tennessee RB Star Thomas 'a dramatically different player' during fall camp
Star Thomas committed to Tennessee out of the NCAA Transfer Portal and went through spring practice with the Vols, after making the move from Duke. But head coach Josh Heupel has seen a different move from Thomas since then.
“A dramatically different player,” Heupel said Saturday morning at Neyland Stadium after Tennessee’s first scrimmage of fall camp.
Thomas ran for 810 yards on 148 carries in 10 games at Duke last season, scoring seven touchdowns while averaging 4.4 yards per attempt. He caught 16 passes for 146 yards and another touchdown.
He transferred to Tennessee to help replace Dylan Sampson, who starred for the Vols while setting single-season program records for rushing yards (1,491) and touchdowns (22).
Star Thomas: 1,981 career rush yards, 16 TDs, 4.9 yards per carry
Tennessee this season will look to reproduce those numbers through a combination of Thomas and returning running backs DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis.
“We’re really, highly competitive,” Thomas said during spring practice. “No egos. We all feel like we got something to prove. I know losing Samp last year, coming in I knew how big that would be. So we know the burden on our shoulder.
“But we’re not letting it get to us. We’re just coming in to do our job every day and prepare to take the next step and try to be better. Not say be better than what he did, but try to match what he did here.”
Thomas spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons at New Mexico, totaling 1,171 yards and nine touchdowns in 28 games. He also caught 34 passes for 351 yards and had five touchdown catches.
Top 10
- 1New
JP Poll Top 20
Big shakeup after Week 2
- 2
Heisman Odds shakeup
Big movement among favorites
- 3Hot
Eli Drinkwitz comes clean
Knew rule was broken
- 4
Deion Sanders
Fires back at media
- 5Trending
Big 12 punishes ref crew
Costly mistake in Kansas-Mizzou
Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
In 15 games as a junior in 2023 he rushed 112 times for 653 yards and four touchdowns and caught 22 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed 107 times for 518 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games in 2022 while also catching 12 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns.
Thomas averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 43.5 yards per game in 2023 and 4.8 yards per carry and 39.8 yards per game in 2022.
‘He’s done an elite job from end of spring ball to where we are practice eight’
He started his collegiate career at Coffeyville Community College in 2020 and 2021. He had 970 yards and 11 touchdowns in 14 games at Coffeyville in 2021.
Thomas is trying to continue ascent at his newest stop. And his Tennessee coaches are already seeing progress being made on the field in the few months he’s been with the Vols.
“Just his body, his movement, explosiveness,” Heupel said on Saturday, “his physicality with the ball and without the ball.
“Some of the details and fundamentals that it takes — pass protection, special teams as well. He’s done an elite job from end of spring ball to where we are practice eight.”
