Star Thomas didn’t believe he could continue playing college football, not even after former teammate Diego Pavia celebrated the courtroom victory that made it possible.
Sitting in a chair amid reporters at Tennessee's indoor football facility, the Vols’ newest running back admits he didn’t expect to be here.
“I was shocked when I heard it. I didn’t believe it at first,” Thomas said about an NCAA rule change that granted him an extra year of eligibility. “I had to call around and get some facts on it.”
Thomas, who transferred from Duke to Tennessee in January, didn’t say whether he called Pavia, Vanderbilt’s quarterback. But that’s a good bet.
They were teammates at New Mexico State in 2022-23. In December, Pavia challenged the NCAA’s eligibility rules in federal court and won a preliminary injunction that granted him an extra year of college football because he started his career in junior college.
Five days later, the NCAA granted a blanket waiver for an additional year of eligibility to former junior college transfers. That included Thomas, who suddenly got a second chance at playing his final year of college football.
Thomas entered the transfer portal, took inquiries from interested schools and booked a flight to Knoxville.
“(Pavia’s case and the NCAA rule change) helped me a lot,” Thomas said. “So I was like, ‘Why not?’ I had to come back and try it again. Last season, I did alright. But I didn’t have the season that I wanted to have (at Duke) to get me to that next level. I feel like I can do that here (at Tennessee).”
How Star Thomas got his unique name
Thomas has a flashy name but a humble spirit.
His first name is actually Star’Corius, which is a combination of his two uncles’ names. Over time, it was shortened to Star.
Thomas said he knows some people see Star as a big name to live up to.
“But I never thought I had to,” said Thomas, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s just a name.”
That sums up why UT coaches wanted him on their roster. He’s got a flashy game as a versatile runner and receiver but an unassuming demeanor.
“You saw a guy that was highly productive at his previous stops, an older guy that’s played a lot of football, a guy that brings some maturity into the whole room,” running backs coach De’Rail Sims said. “We were definitely looking for an older guy because we are still fairly young in that room. So he brought a ton of maturity, a ton of leadership.”
Thomas starred alongside Diego Pavia, then led Duke in rushing
Thomas will turn 24 years old in October, during his sixth college football season. He’s been productive at every stop.
At Coffeyville Community College, he was just shy of 1,000 yards rushing.
At New Mexico State, he accounted for 1,529 yards from scrimmage and 14 TDs in two seasons, earning 2023 All-Conference USA honors. That’s where he shared the spotlight with Pavia, the 2023 Conference USA ...
