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Tennessee football landed Duke running back Star Thomas out of the transfer portal to help reload its backfield.
Thomas made the announcement Sunday on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing “Rocky Top! Let’s do it.”
The Vols must replace SEC Offensive Player of the Year Dylan Sampson, who declared for the NFL Draft, and rebuild their depth after reserve running backs Cam Seldon and Khalifa Keith transferred.
“Just being around Coach Heup (Josh Heupel), Coach (De’Rail) Sims, they were honest from the very first day he called me in the portal and let me know, like, the situation and what the situation was,” Thomas told 247Sports. “It was just something that I felt like I could be a part of, and that’s what I want to be a part of — real coaches, player’s coaches that like to be around their players and entertain and be around their players a lot. And that kind of drew me to them.”
Thomas is a veteran running back and an all-purpose producer with more than 2,500 yards from scrimmage and 22 TDs in his Division I college career.
Thomas joins Arizona transfer offensive guard Wendell Moe and Alabama transfer receiver Amari Jefferson as UT’s portal additions.
Star Thomas stats, career highlights
Thomas is a 6-foot, 210-pounder from Homer, Louisiana. He led Duke in rushing with 871 yards and seven TDs last season. He also made 20 receptions for 153 yards and one TD.
Thomas has one season of eligibility remaining, which he recently regained when the NCAA Division I Board of Directors granted a blanket waiver for an additional year of eligibility to former junior college transfers.
Thomas played one season at Coffeyville Community College. Then he transferred to New Mexico State, where he accounted for 1,529 yards from scrimmage
In 2023, Thomas was named All-Conference USA second team alongside NMSU teammate Diego Pavia, now…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/tennessee-football-gets-duke-running-180907295.html
Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Publish date : 2025-01-19 18:09:00
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