Utah working again Tavion Thomas will get in some work in the course of the first day of fall camp on the College of Utah in Salt Lake Metropolis. Hunter Dyke, Utah Athletics
Utah Utes working again Tavion Thomas talks to a member of the media after the primary day of fall camp exterior of the Spence and Cleone Eccles Soccer Heart in Salt Lake Metropolis on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
Utah working again Tavion Thomas scores towards Ohio State within the 108th Rose Bowl recreation in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. Laura Seitz, Deseret Information
Operating again Tavion Thomas is grateful for the 12 months he has spent in Utah’s soccer program.
He has actually discovered a house with the Utes.
“I’ve acquired lots of expertise right here. Every part is slowing down for me,” Thomas stated. “I’ve gained some friendships right here, some good relationships right here. I’ve realized the tradition.”
And Utah might be relying on him closely this season after he broke the faculty’s single-season speeding landing report with 21 and in addition rushed for greater than 1,000 yards in 2021.
“If you get to the NFL degree, you'll be able to’t get away with sure issues you could get away with in school. Your unhealthy day might presumably be your final day. I've to coach these guys to grasp that it's important to deliver it every single day.” — Utah RBs coach Quinton Ganther on retaining his working backs motivated
Thomas took fairly a circuitous path to Salt Lake Metropolis. After starring at Dunbar Excessive in Ohio, Thomas signed with Cincinnati. Later, he transferred to Independence Neighborhood School.
A 12 months in the past Thomas arrived on Utah’s campus and he reported to fall camp just a little out of form. He needed to work laborious to shed 10 kilos.
Within the season opener towards Weber State, Thomas rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns — however he additionally fumbled in every of the primary two video games of the season, considerably limiting his enjoying time. He had solely two carries within the subsequent two video games.
However the whole lot modified within the win at USC, the place Thomas ran 16 instances for 113 yards, together with a 43-yard landing dash.
Towards UCLA, he gained 160 yards and scored 4 touchdowns. Towards Stanford, Thomas rushed for a career-high 177 yards and scored 4 TDs.
Through the season, Thomas appreciated the help throughout the program for not giving up on him when he was combating ball safety.
“It’s a blessing to know that my teammates and coaches have began to belief me once more,” he stated. “I’m grateful for them giving me one other probability and believing in me. That was actually vital to know they ain’t giving up on me.”
For the season, Thomas earned Pac-12 All-Convention first workforce honors, and ranked No. 3 within the FBS in speeding touchdowns. He ran for 1,108 yards on 204 carries.
Alongside the best way, Thomas established himself as the following standout Ute working again.
Not surprisingly, Thomas was named to the 2022 Doak Walker Award watch record.
“It means quite a bit to me. However proper now I’m targeted on the season,” he stated of the preseason recognition. “If the awards come, in fact I’d be honored. However I’m attempting to get the season underway and give attention to that proper now.”
Whereas Thomas has established himself as an every-down again, the Utes have sturdy depth at that place, with Micah Bernard, Chris Curry and Jaylon Glover amongst these additionally within the combine.
“It’s an open competitors and it’s a superb group,” stated offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig. “It’s good however clearly we all know what Tavion Thomas is all about and what a weapon he could be on this offense.”
Utah Utes working again Tavion Thomas talks to a member of the media after the primary day of fall camp exterior of the Spence and Cleone Eccles Soccer Heart in Salt Lake Metropolis on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret Information
Thomas embraces the competitors at working again.
“We’ve acquired to return out and compete every single day. The job ain’t promised,” he stated. “You’ve acquired to return compete and work laborious and do the little issues proper. Whoever will get in can do their factor. Any certainly one of us. That’s motivated me.”
First-year Utah working backs coach Quinton Ganther loves the expertise he’s inherited, together with Thomas.
“The factor with me is, I’m going to attempt to push and get each ounce of the whole lot they’re able to out of them,” Ganther stated. “I don’t need any of them to get comfy. I don’t need Tavion to assume he’s made it and get comfy and that he doesn’t wish to work. One thing like that occurs if the following man up is as productive, I’m not going for it. I need it to be excessive competitors.
“If you get to the NFL degree, you'll be able to’t get away with sure issues you could get away with in school. Your unhealthy day might presumably be your final day. I've to coach these guys to grasp that it's important to deliver it every single day.”
Left deal with Braeden Daniels and the remainder of the offensive line enjoys blocking for Thomas.
“Having a man like that working behind you is superior,” Daniels stated. “The defenses concern you earlier than you even play them. It’s actually nice. He’ll maintain working and doing his factor.”
On the primary day of camp, Thomas soaked all of it in, figuring out that is his closing season of school soccer.
“I really feel like I’m extra targeted. I’m extra critical. I need it extra,” he stated. “Preserve attacking it day-to-day and have enjoyable with it, too.”
Utah working again Tavion Thomas scores towards Ohio State within the 108th Rose Bowl recreation in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022.
Laura Seitz, Deseret Information