Tag: Omari Thomas

Omari Thomas previews Tennessee’s first road game

Tennessee defensive lineman Omari Thomas previews the Vols’ first road game in 2024.

Senior defesnive lineman Omari Thomas has appeared in all three of Tennessee’s contests this season.

The 6-foot-4, 325-pound defensive lineman has recorded four tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and two pass deflections in 2024.

Thomas met with media to preview the Vols’ Week 4 Southeastern Conference opener at Oklahoma.

“I’m very excited to get a chance,” Thomas said of playing on the road. “The first SEC game, you know, that brings a lot of energy to itself, but then able to start it out on the road, that’s something that we said at the beginning of the year or this offseason that we want to be able to be a team that wins on the road. Be able to go into those hostile environments and be the same as we are playing at home games and things like that.

“I feel like, that really just starts with the defense being able to play with high energy, play with high tempo to create that momentum for us because we know when you go into a hostile environment, they’re going to be cheering loud against our offense and things like that. We just have to go in as a defense to create that energy so that way it feels like a home game for us, as well.”

Kickoff between the Vols and Sooners on Saturday is slated for 7:30 p.m. EDT (ABC).

READ: Omari Thomas discusses ‘love’ for playing on special teams

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Omari Thomas discusses ‘love’ for playing on special teams

Tennessee defensive lineman Omari Thomas discusses his love for playing on special teams.

Tennessee will kick off fall training camp at Haslam Field on Wednesday.

The Vols held local media day at Anderson Training Center on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming season.

Defensive lineman Omari Thomas enters his senior season at Tennessee and took part in local media day.

The 6-foot-4, 325-pound lineman has appeared in 48 games from 2020-23, recording 92 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, four sacks, nine pass deflections, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Thomas is not only a presence on Tennessee’s defensive line, but also on special teams. He can be seen with an appearance of a natural left tackle on the Vols’ left side of the line for extra points.

Thomas discussed his love for playing on special teams.

“In high school I played offensive and defensive line,” Thomas told Vols Wire. “I love special teams. I was just talking with coach Eck (Mike Ekeler) earlier about how I used to be on punt shields. Here I was on punt shields and I want to go back to that. I love special teams.”

READ: Tennessee’s projected 2024 offensive starting lineup

READ: Tennessee’s projected 2024 defensive starting lineup

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Student-athletes announced to represent Tennessee at SEC media days

Three Tennessee student-athletes are announced to represent the Vols at 2024 SEC media days.

Southeastern Conference football media days will be held July 15-18 at Omni Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

The 2024 football season will feature Oklahoma and Texas competing in the SEC. The SEC will also not have East and West divisions this season.

Tennessee announced three student-athletes who will represent the Vols, alongside head coach Josh Heupel, at SEC media days in Dallas.

Offensive lineman Cooper Mays, linebacker Keenan Pili and defensive lineman Omari Thomas will attend SEC media days on July 16. An entire 2024 SEC media days schedule can be viewed here.

Tennessee will kick off its upcoming season versus Chattanooga on Aug. 31 at Neyland Stadium.

READ: Tennessee’s projected offensive starting lineup for 2024 football season

Omari Thomas represents Tennessee on SEC Football Leadership Council

Defensive lineman Omari Thomas represents Tennessee on SEC Football Leadership Council.

Senior defensive lineman Omari Thomas represented Tennessee on the Southeastern Conference Football Leadership Council in Birmingham, Alabama.

He was one of 14 league representatives.

Serving on the Southeastern Conference Football Leadership Council consisted of talking with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, reviewing NCAA and SEC legislative items, a conversation with SEC Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Katie O’Neal, engagement with football officials on rules of the game, student-athlete and referee interaction, and careers in officiating.

The 14 representatives also reviewed SEC student-athlete compliance regulations, NCAA transfer portal restrictions and opportunities involving decision-making around their finances.

Thomas has appeared 48 games for the Vols since 2020, recording 92 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, four sacks, nine pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one block.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Omari Thomas announces return to Tennessee in 2024

Omari Thomas announces return to Tennessee in 2024.

Tennessee senior defensive lineman Omari Thomas announced on Thursday he will return for the 2024 season.

“I will be returning to the University of Tennessee for my final season,” Thomas announced. “Let’s run it back one last time.”

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Thomas recorded 31 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, one sack and one block during the 2023 regular-season.

He has appeared in 47 games from 2020-23 at Tennessee, recording 88 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, four sacks, eight pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one block.

Thomas came to the Vols from Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tennessee.

READ: Game dates finalized for 2024 Tennessee football schedule

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Watch: Omari Thomas discusses Tennessee-Alabama game week

Watch: Omari Thomas discusses Tennessee-Alabama game week.

Senior defensive lineman Omari Thomas has appeared in six games for No. 15 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) this season.

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Thomas has recorded 15 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, one sack and one block in 2023.

He has totaled 72 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, four sacks, eight pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one block in 42 games at Tennessee from 2020-23.

Thomas met with media on Tuesday and discussed Tennessee-Alabama game week. The Vols will play at No. 8 Alabama (6-1, 4-0 SEC) on Saturday in Week 8. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. EDT and will be televised by CBS.

Thomas’ media availability on Tuesday can be watched below.

Omari Thomas details Tennessee’s players-only meeting

Omari Thomas details Tennessee’s players-only meeting ahead of the Florida game.

No. 9 Tennessee (2-0, 0-0 SEC) will play at Florida (1-1, 0-0 SEC) on Saturday in Week 3 (7 p.m. EDT, ESPN).

Rankings reflect the Week 3 US LBM Coaches Poll.

Tennessee senior defensive lineman Omari Thomas met with media on Tuesday. He discussed the Vols having a players-only meeting Sunday after defeating Austin Peay, 30-13, in Week 2.

“What we talked about in there, we just talked about how we just got to continue to approach the week,” Thomas said. “We can’t change our preparation, we know it’s a big game, first SEC game of the year. It’s a rivalry game. We just didn’t need to change what we do. We approach it like we do any other day. Come in, have fun and ready to work. That was really the main thing, just continuing to grow together and just have that players meeting.

“It was a great meeting for us just because it allowed everybody to see that we all have the same page, flush the game that happened, and let’s just continue to go work this week.”

PHOTOS: Tennessee football debuts Artful Dodger Smokey Grey uniforms versus Austin Peay

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Thomas has recorded five tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss during two games in 2023.

Thomas’ media availability ahead of the Tennessee-Florida game can be watched below.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

PHOTOS: Josh Heupel, Vols’ student-athletes at 2023 SEC media days

PHOTOS: Josh Heupel and Tennessee student-athletes at 2023 SEC media days

Southeastern Conference media days took place July 17-20 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and student-athletes Joe Milton III, Omari Thomas and Jacob Warren concluded media days on Thursday.

The Vols will kick off its 2023 season on Sept. 2 versus Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff between Tennessee and the Cavaliers is slated for noon EDT and will be televised by ABC.

The 2023 season will be the third for Tennessee under Heupel. Heupel has compiled an 18-8 (10-6 SEC) record as the Vols’ head coach since 2021.

Below are photos and Heupel, Milton III, Thomas and Warren.

Three Vols to represent Tennessee at SEC media days in Nashville

Three Vols to represent Tennessee at 2023 SEC football media days in Nashville.

Southeastern Conference media days will take place July 17-20 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville, Tennessee.

Quarterback Joe Milton III, defensive lineman Omari Thomas and tight end Jacob Warren will represent Tennessee at SEC media days.

Third-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel and the Vols’ student-athletes will meet with media on July 20.

Tennessee is slated to report for fall training camp on Aug. 1 before practicing for the first time on Aug. 2.

The Vols will kick off its 2023 season versus Virginia on Sept. 2. at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Kickoff between Tennessee and the Cavaliers is slated for noon EDT and will be televised by ABC.

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Four Tennessee student-athlete leaders to visit SEC headquarters

Four Tennessee student-athlete leaders to visit SEC headquarters.

Four University of Tennessee student-athletes are among leaders throughout the Southeastern Conference who are visiting the league’s headquarters this weekend.

Tennessee’s student-athletes are participating in a meeting of the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council in Birmingham, Alabama.

Representing Tennessee are football player Omari Thomas, track and field athlete Mikele Vickers, women’s basketball player Tamari Key and men’s basketball player Jahmai Mashack.

During the two-day event, the Council will hear presentations from Blair Bloomston of Game On Nation and Will Baggett of Emergent Executives, engaging student-athletes on topics of mental health and personal and professional development.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and SEC Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Katie O’Neal will also take part in conversations.

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