Star Thomas, Tensions, and a One-Yard Loss: A Wild Senior Bowl Moment for the Former Vol
It was supposed to be a showcase - a final chance for college prospects to impress NFL scouts before the draft grind kicks into high gear. But for former Tennessee running back Star Thomas, Saturday’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, turned into something else entirely.
During pregame warm-ups - specifically, a routine offense-vs-defense drill - things got heated in a way nobody saw coming. Thomas, taking a half-speed carry up the middle, was unexpectedly leveled by former Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher.
It wasn’t a hard-nosed football play. It was a cheap shot, plain and simple - the kind that crosses the line, especially in a setting like this where players are teammates for the week.
Thomas didn’t take it lightly.
He waved off Boettcher’s attempt to help him up, then fired back with a right-handed punch. The message didn’t stop there.
Thomas grabbed the football and spiked it directly off Boettcher’s helmet before teammates jumped in to separate the two. It was a rare moment of real tension in an event that’s typically more about camaraderie and competition than confrontation.
And just like that, Thomas’s Senior Bowl moment was defined - not by his play, but by a flash of frustration.
He ended the day with just one official carry, a one-yard loss. It was his only touch of the game.
He was one of six running backs who saw action for the National Team, but his late addition to the roster meant limited reps overall. Thomas didn’t arrive in Mobile until Friday, missing the week’s practices on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday - a key time when players get to build rhythm with the coaching staff and earn game-day opportunities.
Still, Thomas’s presence was notable. The six-foot senior from Homer, Louisiana, transferred to Tennessee for the 2025 season and became part of a productive three-man backfield alongside DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis.
In 13 games, Thomas logged 104 carries for 596 yards and seven touchdowns, showing a mix of burst and vision that made him a reliable option in the Vols' ground game. He also proved capable as a pass-catcher, adding 11 receptions for 116 yards and two scores through the air.
He wasn’t the only Vol representing Tennessee in Mobile. Defensive linemen Tyre West and Bryson Eason, cornerback Colton Hood, and defensive back Jalen McMurray also suited up for the Senior Bowl. West wasted no time making his presence felt, opening the game with a statement tackle for loss - a tone-setter that had scouts taking notice.
For Thomas, the day didn’t go according to script. But it was memorable, for better or worse. In a game designed to highlight talent and temperament under pressure, he showed both fire and frustration - and in a league that values competitiveness just as much as composure, NFL teams will now have something more to evaluate than just his tape.
Whether Saturday’s scuffle affects his draft stock remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: Star Thomas left an impression.