Star Thomas ranked as NFL draft top 25 running back

The NFL draft will be held Thursday-Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Round 1 will take place Thursday, while the second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday.

The draft will conclude with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday.

Ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN released big board rankings for top prospects and positional groups.

“I reserve the right to make minor tweaks right up until the draft begins based on late-breaking reports, but after nearly a full year of watching tape, sizing up predraft workouts and making calls to NFL scouts, coaches and execs, this is how I see the class,” Kiper Jr. said.

He projects former Vol Star Thomas as the No. 25 running back for positional rankings.

The 6-foot, 210-pound running back played at Tennessee for one season in 2025 after transferring from Duke, New Mexico State and Coffeyville Community College.

Thomas appeared in 13 games for the Vols and totaled 596 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 104 attempts. He also recorded 11 receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns.

In one season at Duke in 2024, Thomas totaled 871 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 20 receptions, 153 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.

At New Mexico State from 2022-23, he recorded 1,173 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, 34 receptions, 351 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.

Thomas appeared in 14 games, including eight starts, at Coffeyville Community College in 2021. He totaled 970 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, eight receptions and 36 receiving yards.