Tag: Omari Thomas

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.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

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.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Spring practices: Omari Thomas discusses continuing to play physical, fast off the ball

Tennessee defensive lineman Omari Thomas discusses continuing to play physical and fast off the ball.

Tennessee practiced for the eighth time during spring Tuesday at Haslam Field.

Following practice, junior defensive lineman Omari Thomas discussed taking his on-field performance to another level.

“For me, what I have been working at this offseason is being able to keep my pad level low, coming out using my hands and just continuing to play physical and be fast off the ball,” Thomas said. “I feel like that is what the team needs as a defensive line. That is what I am trying to put out there or produce as a defensive line from me. The players beside me, as well, are trying to do the same thing. We want to be the best defensive line in the country.”

Thomas has appeared in 23 games for Tennessee from 2020-21. He has totaled 31 tackles, four tackles for a loss, one sack and four pass deflections.

[vertical-gallery id=40818]

UT football signee Omari Thomas plays in state championship basketball game

UT football signee Omari Thomas plays in state championship basketball game.

NASHVILLE — A University of Tennessee football signee closed out his high school basketball career Saturday night, but his team was not able to successfully defend its 2018-19 Division II-AA State Championship.

Omari Thomas, also known as the “Big O.” and Briarcrest Christian School came up a bit short in their effort to defend its state title when they dropped a 50-47 decision to Knoxville Catholic over the weekend at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena.

Thomas, a 6-foot-4, 319-pound defensive lineman on the Saints’ football team, signed with the Volunteers.

The four-star tackle also had offers from a number of schools in the Southeastern Conference including Auburn, Texas A&M and Alabama.

Saturday, on the hardwood, Thomas scored four points. Despite early foul trouble that limited him to just 11 minutes of action, he had two blocked shots, a pair of steals and an assist.

Recruiting Player Profile: Omari Thomas

Recruiting Player Profile: Omari Thomas

KNOXVILLE – As Tennessee football brings in new talent during the Early Signing Period, Vols Wire is releasing player profiles on each individual that signs with UT.

Find out recruiting ratings, key skills, stats and which other programs had offers on the table for each Tennessee signee.

In a talent-rich recruiting season for the Memphis area, Jeremy Pruitt and his staff made that part of the state a high priority for this Early Signing Period, Vols Wire. One player the Vols had been pursuing heavily put pen to paper on Wednesday morning, as Briarcrest Christian defensive tackle Omari Thomas signed to play for Tennessee.

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound four-star prospect is an athletic, powerful interior defensive lineman that will join a position group that returns plenty of talent for Tennessee, making the defensive line a strong position group for 2020.

Thomas is rated as the No. 10 defensive tackle in the country by the 247 Sports Composite, and holds offers from several elite programs, such as Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Clemson, LSU and several others. Behind Keyshawn Lawrence, Thomas currently is the second-highest rated player in Tennessee’s 2020 class.

As the winner of the Tennessee Titans Division II – AAA Mr. Football award, Thomas will also be headed to the Army All-America Bowl on Jan. 4 in San Antonio.

Stay tuned to Vols Wire for more player profiles on each Tennessee signee during the Early Signing Period.