Latest news with #Pavia
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How transfer RB Star Thomas got to Tennessee football thanks to former teammate Diego Pavia
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. Advertisement '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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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 Player of the Year. AUBURN, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 18: Running back Star Thomas #4 of the New Mexico State Aggies celebrates with quarterback Diego Pavia #10 of the New Mexico State Aggies after scoring a touchdown during the second half of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 18, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by) Last season, Thomas led Duke in rushing with 871 yards and seven TDs. He also made 20 receptions for 153 yards and one TD. Thomas could've arrived at Tennessee demanding respect from younger running backs. Instead, he showed it back to them. 'Those guys are pretty seasoned, and they've helped me with a lot of things,' Thomas said. 'We've got a great room. Everyone is eager to learn. There are no egos in there.' Advertisement Sophomore running back DeSean Bishop saw the addition of Thomas as a plus to the position. 'He's someone that's going to push me,' Bishop said. 'And it's good to have another older guy in the room. I'm glad to have him.' Where Thomas fits in Tennessee running back competition So there are good vibes in Tennessee's backfield. But camaraderie alone won't replace the record-breaking production of Dylan Sampson, the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He rushed for 1,491 yards and 22 TDs, both single-season school records, and then declared for the NFL Draft. Bishop and Peyton Lewis, Sampson's backups, have the early lead in the backfield competition. Bishop rushed for 455 yards and three TDs last season. Lewis rushed for 339 yards and three TDs. Advertisement Freshman running backs Daune Morris and Justin Baker also debuted in spring practice as early enrollees. Thomas appears to be somewhere in the middle of that mix with plenty of time before the 2025 season. He could challenge Bishop and Lewis for the starting spot. But it's just as likely that he plays well enough to claim one spot in a three-man rotation. It's too early to tell because Thomas admits that he only recently turned the corner in spring practice. He had to learn UT's playbook, verbiage and signals. Then he had to adjust to the offense's fast tempo. DESEAN BISHOP: How RB bet on himself from Tennessee walk-on to scholarship Advertisement Fortunately, he has experience making such a transition. This is his fourth football program in the past five years, so he's not overwhelmed. 'The hard part was at the beginning, but I'm way more comfortable now than the first practice,' Thomas said. 'I've always dreamed of playing SEC football, and this is a great opportunity for me to have a chance to play.' Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Star Thomas: Duke transfer got to Tennessee football thanks to Diego Pavia
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How transfer RB Star Thomas got to Tennessee football thanks to former teammate Diego Pavia
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).' 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 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 Player of the Year. Last season, Thomas led Duke in rushing with 871 yards and seven TDs. He also made 20 receptions for 153 yards and one TD. Thomas could've arrived at Tennessee demanding respect from younger running backs. Instead, he showed it back to them. 'Those guys are pretty seasoned, and they've helped me with a lot of things,' Thomas said. 'We've got a great room. Everyone is eager to learn. There are no egos in there.' Sophomore running back DeSean Bishop saw the addition of Thomas as a plus to the position. 'He's someone that's going to push me,' Bishop said. 'And it's good to have another older guy in the room. I'm glad to have him.' So there are good vibes in Tennessee's backfield. But camaraderie alone won't replace the record-breaking production of Dylan Sampson, the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He rushed for 1,491 yards and 22 TDs, both single-season school records, and then declared for the NFL Draft. Bishop and Peyton Lewis, Sampson's backups, have the early lead in the backfield competition. Bishop rushed for 455 yards and three TDs last season. Lewis rushed for 339 yards and three TDs. Freshman running backs Daune Morris and Justin Baker also debuted in spring practice as early enrollees. Thomas appears to be somewhere in the middle of that mix with plenty of time before the 2025 season. He could challenge Bishop and Lewis for the starting spot. But it's just as likely that he plays well enough to claim one spot in a three-man rotation. It's too early to tell because Thomas admits that he only recently turned the corner in spring practice. He had to learn UT's playbook, verbiage and signals. Then he had to adjust to the offense's fast tempo. DESEAN BISHOP: How RB bet on himself from Tennessee walk-on to scholarship Fortunately, he has experience making such a transition. This is his fourth football program in the past five years, so he's not overwhelmed. 'The hard part was at the beginning, but I'm way more comfortable now than the first practice,' Thomas said. 'I've always dreamed of playing SEC football, and this is a great opportunity for me to have a chance to play.' Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Star Thomas: Duke transfer got to Tennessee football thanks to Diego Pavia
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who is Vanderbilt's quarterback if Diego Pavia has an injury? A look at Clark Lea's options
Vanderbilt football isn't even pretending to have a starting quarterback competition this spring. Diego Pavia, who last season led the Commodores to a 7-6 record and an upset win over Alabama along with a win in the Birmingham Bowl, is the unquestioned starter for 2025 after winning an extra year of eligibility in a court case. However, there is still a competition going on in the quarterback room. After last season's backup Nate Johnson transferred back to Utah, it remains to be seen who will back up Pavia. Vanderbilt has five scholarship quarterbacks for spring practice and has a freshman, Jack Elliott, coming in for the fall. Drew Dickey, Blaze Berlowitz, Jeremy St-Hilaire and Whit Muschamp are all jockeying for position. Dickey, a redshirt junior, has only appeared in one game in three years at Vanderbilt, in 2023. He has never attempted a pass. However, he has been around the longest. Berlowitz came over from New Mexico State as a transfer along with Pavia after the Commodores hired Tim Beck as offensive coordinator. His lone college appearance was in the 2023 Conference USA championship game. St-Hilaire and Muschamp are both redshirt freshmen from the Chattanooga area who did not see game action in 2024. "Right now, (it's) a little inconsistent," coach Clark Lea said Tuesday. "We're throwing the ball to the defense too often. I think there's two things there. One is playing better in the secondary. Two, you've got to make good decisions with the ball, but you want whoever ends up being the number two to know that we can be consistent. "We can play through the other 10 players on the field. And so that's what I'll be looking for, and there's no reason for us to try to set that down right now. I think we use our remaining scrimmage opportunities to really evaluate the room." Berlowitz seems like the early leader for the backup job, though that competition is far from over. With new roster limits beginning in the fall that allow teams to have up to 105 players, it's likely that one or more of the backup quarterback competition losers will transfer when the spring portal opens April 16. TWO-WAY PLAYER? Clark Lea doesn't need Martel Hight to be Travis Hunter but could have his first Vanderbilt two-way player For Berlowitz, having learned behind Pavia and gained experience in Beck's offense has provided an advantage. "I've learned a lot from Diego," Berlowitz said. "We've been really good friends for a long time. Took a lot of leadership skills from him as well, and then just learned the game. He's been a great leader, great friend, and blessed having him." Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@ or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Diego Pavia backup QB: Vanderbilt football options for Clark Lea
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Diego Pavia throws out first pitch at Vanderbilt baseball vs Arkansas wearing Walker Buehler jersey
Diego Pavia threw out the first pitch for Vanderbilt baseball in the opening game of its series against Arkansas on Friday night. Pavia, the star Vanderbilt quarterback who won a lawsuit against the NCAA to get an extra year of eligibility, is returning for his second season with the Commodores in 2025 after transferring from New Mexico State before the 2024 season. He helped lead Vanderbilt to an upset win over Alabama and a 7-6 record, the Commodores' first winning record in 10 years. They were victorious in the Birmingham Bowl against Georgia Tech. Pavia took the mound wearing a Walker Buehler Boston Red Sox jersey. Buehler, a former Vanderbilt pitcher, signed with the Red Sox in the offseason after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He threw a strike to outfielder Jacob Humphrey. MORE ON PAVIA The phone call that changed everything for Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt football's 2025 season The Commodores will hold their spring football game on April 12 at FirstBank Stadium. Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@ or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Diego Pavia throws out first pitch for Vanderbilt baseball vs Arkansas
Fox Sports
14-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
NCAA sends guidance to schools regarding how to handle waiver that resulted from Pavia ruling
Associated Press The NCAA has sent out guidance advising schools on how to handle the waiver that it granted to junior college athletes in December after a court ruled in favor of Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia's bid for another year of eligibility. This waiver permits student-athletes who attended and competed at a non-NCAA school such as a junior college or NAIA institution for at least one year to become eligible to compete in the 2025-26 academic year if they otherwise would have exhausted their eligibility in this school year. This is assuming they are otherwise academically and athletically eligible. A student-athlete who previously attended a non-NCAA school and is now at Division II or Division III institution and had been expected to exhaust his or her eligibility this year would now be able to compete at a Division I school in 2025-26, as long as that person spent at least one season of competition at the non-NCAA school, satisfies all other waiver criteria and meets all other eligibility requirements. The NCAA emphasized that this waiver is specifically for students who spent at least one season of competition at a non-NCAA institution. The NCAA says the waiver isn't available to student-athletes who used four seasons of competition at NCAA schools, regardless of division. According to the guidance, athletes who played at least one season at a non-NCAA institution such as a junior college or an NAIA school will be eligible to compete during the 2025-26 year. If a student-athlete has time remaining in their eligibility period to use in 2025-26 based on relief provided due to the pandemic's impact, they also could qualify for this relief provided they spent at least one season at a non-NCAA school, are otherwise eligible and haven't competed in four seasons at an NCAA institution. Pavia received an injunction in December enabling him to play one more season at Vanderbilt this fall. U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell ruled that Pavia would have had 'strong likelihood of success' under the Sherman Act at trial because the NCAA's rules limiting junior college eligibility were 'restraints on trade with substantial anticompetitive effects.' The NCAA has appealed that ruling. ___ AP sports: recommended in this topic
