Tavion Thomas NFL Draft Overview
Position: Running back
Height: 6′-0″
Weight: 237 pounds
School: Utah
2023 NFL Draft: Tavion Thomas Scouting Report
A native of Ohio, Tavion Thomas committed to playing for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. In his first season with the Bearcats in 2018, Thomas carried the ball 89 times for 499 yards and six touchdowns. However, Thomas saw limited playing time during his second season in the Queen City. He posted just 40 carries for 190 yards and a touchdown in just four games. Thomas, dejected by the lack of playing time transferred to Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas for what would be the Covid-19 shortened 2020 season.
In four appearances for the Pirates, Thomas had 50 carries for 347 yards and five touchdowns. Thomas next transferred to the University of Utah for the 2021 season. In that season, Thomas had his best year statistics-wise, by far. He carried the ball for the Utes 204 times in 13 games, for a total of 1,108 yards and 21 touchdowns,. Deciding to forego the 2022 NFL Draft, Thomas returned to Salt Lake City for his final year of eligibility. Due to injury, Thomas’s numbers were nowhere near as good as they were in his junior year.He carried the ball 142 times in 10 games for only 687 yards and seven touchdowns.
Strengths
- Appeared to gain quickness each year, as his college career progressed;
- Light on his feet, enabling him to change direction and hurdle tacklers;
- Runs through initial contact;
- Breaks/bounces off tackles;
- Can break away if he gets into the open field
Weaknesses
- Delay from his stance to getting the hand-off; not fluid;
- Acceleration is lackluster when he gets into the open field;
- Maintains a higher body posture in short-yardage situations and gets tackled/driven back, before the first down marker;
- Lacks catch-and-run, ability;
- Blocking on passing plays is a work in progress
NFL Comparison: A slightly lighter, Leonard Fournette
Teams With Need At Position: Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys
Projection: Round 6 to UDFA
Bottom Line on Tavion Thomas
If Tavion Thomas can return to the form he showed in his junior year, then he may reward a team willing to take a chance on with a gem of a running back prospect. A team is highly likely to select Thomas in round six or seven, or a team signs him as an undrafted free agent. Thomas’ biggest weakness is his inability to consistently get the first down in short-yardage situations. This issue may stem from a lack of lower body strength, which if that is the case, a strength and conditioning program focused on his core and lower body strength would help remedy this issue.
What may be of concern to some teams is the somewhat mysterious circumstances around his time at the University of Cincinnati. He only played in four games in his second year with the Bearcats after having a very productive freshman season. After those four games in his second year, in Cincinnati, Thomas entered the transfer portal and transferred, not to another Division I school, but to a community college. No one has commented on what transpired at Cincinnati, and why Thomas did not transfer directly to another Division I school. As it is obvious, some school would have benefited from his talent. The mystery and poorer performance in his final year with the Utes aside, Thomas has shown the potential to be an effective NFL running back, for a team willing to give him an opportunity.
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports
