Sophomore running back TJ Thomas Jr. enters this season as one of the notable returning skill positions for Elon University football. As a freshman, Thomas made an immediate impact as the second running back on the depth chart behind senior Rushawn Baker, accounting for 696 total yards from scrimmage.
Despite a shoulder injury that cut Thomas’ freshman campaign short, he has his sights set on a comeback. Thomas said he has been working hard to come back stronger than last year and looks forward to elevating his skills.
“I want to just do what I do,” Thomas said. “Don’t even think about anything. Just keep my mind on football and get the job done.”
That mindset was similar for Thomas even in his freshman year. Thomas said he arrived at Elon confident in his abilities, and was ready to make an impression. He said he wanted to fully prepare himself for whenever he would get the opportunity to play.
“I’ve always been someone who wanted to get on the field,” Thomas said. “I just had a stay-quiet-and-work mentality, and when the opportunity presented itself I just ran with it.”
Thomas proceeded to establish himself as a key contributor for Elon. In the eight games before his shoulder injury, Thomas rushed for 588 yards and five touchdowns. He additionally went over 100 yards in three games.
Running backs coach Nate Harris said he was impressed by Thomas’ ability to quickly translate his skills from high school over to the college game. He saw that Thomas was able to maintain his elusiveness, which made him appealing as a recruit.
“One of his best attributes is just being able to avoid tackles,” Harris said. “That was what made him attractive coming out of high school, but someone’s game doesn’t always translate as fast from one level to the next. It was refreshing to see that he could pull this off in Division I.”
Harris was one of many coaches at Elon who trusted Thomas to assume an important role in the offense. Thomas said that it inspired him to continue performing at a high level throughout the season.
“Coaches were telling me I could make an immediate impact, and that just motivated me even more to keep going,” Thomas said.
However, a shoulder injury against Hampton University on Oct. 26, 2024, ended Thomas’ season after just eight games. He had shoulder surgery in November 2024, and has spent the offseason getting stronger while also rehabilitating his shoulder. Thomas said the recovery process was long, but he was determined to be back in peak physical condition before Elon’s first game at Duke on Aug. 28.
“I’ve really been working in the training room two times a day,” Thomas said. “It’s been long. I had surgery in November, and didn’t get to play in the spring so now is really the time to get as strong as possible to keep my shoulder healthy.”
While Thomas was recovering, Elon’s offense went through numerous changes after the season. Baker, along with quarterback Matthew Downing ’25, wide receiver Chandler Brayboy ’25, and offensive lineman Kevin Burkett ’25 all committed for the NFL Draft. In addition, Elon hired former Kent State and United States Football League coach Doug Martin as their new offensive coordinator.
The losses of Baker and Brayboy leave Thomas with more total yards than any returning player on the team last season. With plenty of new starters, Thomas said he still expects everyone to be on the same page. He said he hopes the entire offense will continue to make notable strides each day.
“I expect all of us to come in together and bond each and every day,” Thomas said. “Just put our head down and work.”
With Thomas being one of the most productive returners on offense, he knows he must take on a bigger leadership role. Thomas said he prefers to lead by example, but he needs to become more vocal.
“I got to play a role in leading the offense,” Thomas said. “People know that I’m kind of quiet, but I feel like my actions have to be bigger. One of the biggest things I’m working on is just being more vocal.”
Harris echoed a similar sentiment. He said he tries to remind Thomas that players on the team are counting on him. Harris said he has already been impressed with Thomas’ maturity at his age and believes he can use that to have a larger voice on the team.
“He’s already got that mature demeanor,” Harris said. “Now the mental aspect is starting to catch up, and it’s been cool to see his evolution.”
Thomas said he’s excited to have higher expectations placed on him going into the season. He said he now feels even more motivated to build off his early success.
“With the high expectations, it could come with pressure but I love that,” Thomas said. “I just got to have the same mindset to just win in whatever I do.”