Tavion Thomas, Utah Football News: Draft Scout Player News

11/13/22 - RB Tavion Thomas, rJr/2023, Utah

A few weeks ago, Tavion Thomas was on the brink of losing his place on Utah's football team. Rushing for a career-high 180 yards on Saturday night proved he's all the way back. "I was just so happy to be out there with my teammates," Thomas said. "I wasn't worried about my carries, I was just worried about finishing this thing and playing with these guys." Cameron Rising threw for three touchdowns and No. 13 Utah beat Stanford 42-7 on Senior Night. Utah (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12) started slow on a below-freezing night in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains, but scored 42 straight points after trailing 7-0 to Stanford (3-7, 1-7). Utah's defense was suffocating after the initial score while Thomas recorded his first 100-yard rushing game since the season opener at Florida and eclipsed his previous high (177) set at Stanford last year.

Thomas, who has been in and out of the lineup with personal issues, was pressed into heavy use because of injuries in the backfield. "It's been challenging but you can't run from it, you have to attack it. I've got great guys here and a great support system and they got me back slowly but surely," Thomas said. He rushed for a four-yard TD in the second quarter and a 36-yard score in the fourth - his 28th career touchdown at Utah, moving him to third on the all-time rushing TD list. "There were some bumps in the road … but I'm really grateful he continued to stick with it and fight through some of the issues he was having," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. Thomas was a 1,000-yard rusher and had 21 touchdowns last season but was away from team at times this season and missed the Washington State game. He struggled through the middle of the season but showed renewed speed and power in time for Utah's quest for a Rose Bowl return. "It was great to see Tavion in his last game at Rice-Eccles get back to his old self. I'm really proud of him and glad that he's weathered the storm," Whittingham said. - Utah/AP College Football

rJr/2023