'25 Duke RB Transfer Star Thomas (TENNESSEE)

[PlanetVolunteer]

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So you've finally come to terms with the destruction of the death star? Able to make light of it these days?

Proud of you Mr Vader.

 

[Vols2DaWall]

Even though I’m underwhelmed, I don’t get the “depth piece” talk. this kid is most likely gonna start. I’m sure they’ve looked at his pass pro as a main factor. Lewis was not good which is normal for a freshman (maybe he takes a big step there) Bishop still struggles at it.

We are taking a big step backwards going from Samp to Thomas if he's our starter.

Best case was Lewis taking a big step up from freshman to sophomore year.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

Good depth piece. Absolutely.

 

[Vol737]

Reserving judgment for now. I’m betting Lewis is our starter. Bishop and this guy share second team reps unless we have a freshman that’s a complete surprise and balls out.

 

[Glitch]

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Reserving judgment for now. I’m betting Lewis is our starter. Bishop and this guy share second team reps unless we have a freshman that’s a complete surprise and balls out.

I think Lewis is gonna be an absolute monster the next few years. And if Bishop can stay healthy he can put together a strong season next year as well. I think we can plug most running backs into our system and they can find success.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I think Lewis is gonna be an absolute monster the next few years. And if Bishop can stay healthy he can put together a strong season next year as well. I think we can plug most running backs into our system and they can find success.

I think the X, er the Y factors (pun intended), are WR's.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I think the X, er the Y factors (pun intended), are WR's.

I think you’re right. Really need Matthews and Brazell to take a big step this season. We need a Cedric Tillman type guy to set the tone for the off season and prove that if you put in the work you’re gonna see the results .

 

[RiseToTheTop]

I think you’re are right. Really need Matthews and Brazell to take a big step this season. We need a Cedric Tillman type guy to set the tone for the off season and prove that if you put in the work you’re gonna see the results .

Brazzell needs to be locked in the weight room until august. That dude was weak.

 

[LouderVol]

I haven't seen it mentioned, what is Star's health record?

Both Lewis and Bishop have been limited in the past.

I don't see him as a full season starter, but definitely think he is good enough to get some starts and us not see a huge drop off.

 

[AngryButchJones]

I haven't seen it mentioned, what is Star's health record?

Both Lewis and Bishop have been limited in the past.

I don't see him as a full season starter, but definitely think he is good enough to get some starts and us not see a huge drop off.

I've not been able to find any mention of injuries online in my brief searching. He played in all of Duke's games this season, minus the bowl game. Looks like he played in most if not all of New Mexico's games too when he was there. So if he's had injuries, they've either been fairly minor or happened when he was in JUCO or high school.

 

[LouderVol]

I've not been able to find any mention of injuries online in my brief searching. He played in all of Duke's games this season, minus the bowl game. Looks like he played in most if not all of New Mexico's games too when he was there. So if he's had injuries, they've either been fairly minor or happened when he was in JUCO or high school.

I appreciate it. that definitely adds to the reason to get him.

sometimes availability is the best ability.

even rotating RBs like we do, guys get beat up and hurt.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

Brazzell needs to be locked in the weight room until august. That dude was weak.

Heard from Ainge show he was just not mentally there enough. Didn't know what to do half the time.

Agree with gaining a little weight. Hoping for a Thornton like jump! If so we got ourselves a stud.

 

[jasonvol18]

We are taking a big step backwards going from Samp to Thomas if he's our starter.

Best case was Lewis taking a big step up from freshman to sophomore year.

NOBODY knows this. I want to see this kid play behind a good Oline first. Putting up the yards he did at Duke and NMSt was pretty impressive considering neither had an Oline worth a damn. It wasn't like DS was a big time recruit. Thomas has some nice looking highlights and look forward to seeing him on a team with an above avg Oline and potential to be a really good Oline. He may end up avg or he could be a beast in our offense. I'll take the latter and say he will do very well in our offense. Plus, he adds some size and even more importantly, some veteran leadership. Something we don't have in the RB room.

 

[jasonvol18]

Heard from Ainge show he was just not mentally there enough. Didn't know what to do half the time.

Agree with gaining a little weight. Hoping for a Thornton like jump! If so we got ourselves a stud.

He's definitely shown potential when he was at Tulane and that catch in the endzone vs Alabama. Hopefully he takes that year 2 step. Brazzell, Mathews,BS, Smith and I'm sure we add a high end WR in the portal( Tate, hopefully), then our WR room has potential to be really good. We need Mathews and/or Brandon S. to turn into a take the top off the Defense type WR's and put up Hyatt type numbers. . Amazing what that can do for an offense.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

He's definitely shown potential when he was at Tulane and that catch in the endzone vs Alabama. Hopefully he takes that year 2 step. Brazzell, Mathews,BS, Smith and I'm sure we add a high end WR in the portal( Tate, hopefully), then our WR room has potential to be really good. We need Mathews and/or Brandon S. to turn into a take the top off the Defense type WR's and put up Hyatt type numbers. . Amazing what that can do for an offense.

Nico just has to hit the open ones and our WR group just has to renew its standing as WR U. The last two years has to be the longest stretch we've had in quite some time where we don't have multiple guys playing great football in that room.

In two years a banged up Thornton was probably our best. Bru would have been not healthy, but it has been unusually bad in that room. Nico and Joe missed too many, but I don't think anyone would argue that what we've had the last two years doesn't stack up to any group in our history going back to the 70's probably.

It was an aberration and we should get back to where we belong on that front.

 

[dillyo51]

It seems like Tennessee fans don’t believe players can get better from year to year.

Can we be better fans, year to year?

 

[LaagerVol]

He seems to be a tough runner with quick feet and a good receiver out of the backfield.
One thing I saw that I didn't like in this highlight video is that he ran out of bounds a couple of times on the sideline when faced with defenders.
Never do that as a RB. You lower that shoulder and attack the defense and get those extra yards, even if it's only 3 or 4.

NM

 

[titansvolsfaninga]

Can we be better fans, year to year?

Nope, some of the fans give beta energy. Always the victim and entitled. Same legion of miserables that Johnny Majors hated.

 

[Weezer]

Swain thinks this kid is RB1 next year. Not sure how excited I am about that. JMO, there were better backs in the portal. Maybe they weren't seen as "fits". Be it to culture, scheme, whatever. I hope this kid stands out and proves to be a steal. I will gladly eat crow. But right now, as a fan, I'm underwhelmed by the pickup. Just an opinion.

 

[cncchris33]

Swain thinks this kid is RB1 next year. Not sure how excited I am about that. JMO, there were better backs in the portal. Maybe they weren't seen as "fits". Be it to culture, scheme, whatever. I hope this kid stands out and proves to be a steal. I will gladly eat crow. But right now, as a fan, I'm underwhelmed by the pickup. Just an opinion.

The coaches are the coaches for a reason, and we're at our computers/phones discussing it because we aren't them...I get that.

But I agree with you. This kid wasn't my favorite of the portal backs, and if he is RB1 next year, to me, that maybe speaks more about the RBs we have on campus.

Still, this staff has pretty much been nails when it comes to RB evals, so it's one position I probably trust them the most to take a calculated risk on. And they may not even see it as such. To them, they may see this kid and just know he's exactly what they need. Time will tell. Certainly not a splash name or eye-popping production, but let's hope they nailed another RB eval and this kid is a stud in the right system.

 

[Weezer]

The coaches are the coaches for a reason, and we're at our computers/phones discussing it because we aren't them...I get that.

But I agree with you. This kid wasn't my favorite of the portal backs, and if he is RB1 next year, to me, that maybe speaks more about the RBs we have on campus.

Still, this staff has pretty much been nails when it comes to RB evals, so it's one position I probably trust them the most to take a calculated risk on. And they may not even see it as such. To them, they may see this kid and just know he's exactly what they need. Time will tell. Certainly not a splash name or eye-popping production, but let's hope they nailed another RB eval and this kid is a stud in the right system.

Question, when you say, "nails when it comes to RB evals", which ones? I know Small was inherited. Was Wright? I can't remember who recruited him. Kudos to them for Dylan Sampson. But then you have Seldon and Keith, both who just transferred out. Bishop is technically a walk-on, but they convinced him to come, and he's shown to be solid. Maybe he becomes spectacular. Lewis looks like he can be special, but he hasn't got there yet. And no idea how the freshmen turn out, though I have high hopes. Point being, I think there's some room to argue hit and miss. And that's not to criticize the coaches. I just think sometimes we put them on peddle stools.

I hope the coaches nailed this eval and this kid is a stud. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

Swain thinks this kid is RB1 next year. Not sure how excited I am about that. JMO, there were better backs in the portal. Maybe they weren't seen as "fits". Be it to culture, scheme, whatever. I hope this kid stands out and proves to be a steal. I will gladly eat crow. But right now, as a fan, I'm underwhelmed by the pickup. Just an opinion.

He is if Peyton Lewis doesn't make a jump.

 

[cncchris33]

Question, when you say, "nails when it comes to RB evals", which ones? I know Small was inherited. Was Wright? I can't remember who recruited him. Kudos to them for Dylan Sampson. But then you have Seldon and Keith, both who just transferred out. Bishop is technically a walk-on, but they convinced him to come, and he's shown to be solid. Maybe he becomes spectacular. Lewis looks like he can be special, but he hasn't got there yet. And no idea how the freshmen turn out, though I have high hopes. Point being, I think there's some room to argue hit and miss. And that's not to criticize the coaches. I just think sometimes we put them on peddle stools.

I hope the coaches nailed this eval and this kid is a stud. We'll just have to wait and see.

Wright was technically inherited though they wanted him, and worked to convince him to honor his commitment.

Seldon was more of a project than a true RB evaluation. I think they liked him with the ball in his hands and tried to turn him into something he wasn't, or perhaps wasn't interested in becoming. I guess that is a poor evaluation on where to play him, but I think the jury may still be out on his actual ability. He needs to stay healthy, first and foremost.

Sampson was a stud they identified and signed.

Lewis and Bishop have both shown they can play in limited roles. The next step is growing those roles.

Keith was really the only head-scratcher to me, but he doesn't physically fit the mold of RBs they have used and he never really got much opportunity. His portal landing spot was probably a pretty good indicator of his talent, though.

In hindsight, if you don't count Wright, I guess it is more of a mixed bag than solid proof they can nail that position, so I guess again, let's hope they nailed this one.

 

[Weezer]

Wright was technically inherited though they wanted him, and worked to convince him to honor his commitment.

Seldon was more of a project than a true RB evaluation. I think they liked him with the ball in his hands and tried to turn him into something he wasn't, or perhaps wasn't interested in becoming. I guess that is a poor evaluation on where to play him, but I think the jury may still be out on his actual ability. He needs to stay healthy, first and foremost.

Sampson was a stud they identified and signed.

Lewis and Bishop have both shown they can play in limited roles. The next step is growing those roles.

Keith was really the only head-scratcher to me, but he doesn't physically fit the mold of RBs they have used and he never really got much opportunity. His portal landing spot was probably a pretty good indicator of his talent, though.

In hindsight, if you don't count Wright, I guess it is more of a mixed bag than solid proof they can nail that position, so I guess again, let's hope they nailed this one.

I remember two years ago, we were saying, "What does it matter who we get at WR? This staff has shown they can develop them." Two years later, we see it matters.