Star Thomas

Star Thomas runs down the field at No. 5 Miami.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Star Thomas runs down the field against Florida State.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Star Thomas and Manny Diaz hug after beating UNC 21-20.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Position:
Running Back
Height:
6-0
Weight:
210
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Homer, La.
High School:
Homer
Prev School:
New Mexico State

CAREER: Lettered one season at Duke (2024) after being a two-year member (2022-23) of the football program at New Mexico State and two-year member (2020-21) at Coffeyville Community College ... 2024 Academic All-ACC honoree ... 2023 Second Team All-Conference USA and 2021 First Team Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) All-Conference selection ... in 54 career games (23 starts), rushed 593 times for 3,014 yards (5.08) with 27 TDs and recorded 62 receptions for 540 yards (8.71) with six scores ... rushed for 871 yards during Duke season, the ninth most in a campaign by a Blue Devil ... finished seventh in Duke history in carries in a year with 213 in 2024 ... turned in three consecutive 100-yard rushing performances to tie for the third-longest streak in Duke history ... scored 198 career points (33 TDs [27 rushing & six receiving]) … posted 50+ rushing yards on 24 occasions, including a career-best 227 yards on 20 carries against Butler Community College on October 2, 2021 … added a career-high 30 carries for 166 yards with two TDs against North Carolina on September 28, 2024 … named the ACC Running Back of the Week following performance versus the Tar Heels ... compiled seven games with 100+ yards rushing and four games with multiple rushing TDs.

2024: Played in 12 games, missing just the Ole Miss contest in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl ... started 10 consecutive contests after the Blue Devils lost Jaquez Moore due to injury ... compiled 213 rushes for 871 yards (4.09) with seven TDs and 20 receptions for 153 yards (7.65) and one TD ... led the Blue Devils in rushing attempts, rushing yards and rushing TDs, while sitting tied for third in scoring with 48 points from eight TDs ... rushing yardage marked the ninth most in a campaign by a Blue Devil ... finished seventh in Duke history in carries in a year ... turned in three consecutive 100-yard rushing performances to tie for the third-longest streak in Blue Devil history ... rushed 10+ times in all 12 contests, 17+ times on eight occasions and 22+ twice ... posted a season-best 30 carries against North Carolina … broke free for a year-best 44-yard scamper against Florida State ... carded 30+ rushing yards on 10 occasions and 100+ rushing yards three times against Connecticut (122 yards), Middle Tennessee (111 yards) and North Carolina (166 yards) … versus North Carolina, finished with 211 all-purpose yards (166 rush; 45 receiving) to mark the eighth most by a Blue Devil since 2000 ... 166 total rushing yards versus the Tar Heels marked the second-highest single-game total by a Duke running back in a win over UNC, trailing only a 193-yard performance by Jack Alexander in 1935 ... notched rushing scores against Middle Tennessee (2), North Carolina (1), Florida State (1), SMU (1), Virginia Tech (1) and Wake Forest (1) ... caught 2+ passes in five games and 4+ three times ... hauled in a year-best five receptions at Wake Forest in the regular season finale ... tallied a year-long 29-yard reception versus North Carolina ... had 11 plays (9 rushing & 2 receiving) covering 20+ yards, including one (receiving) for a TD ... on the field for 537 snaps.

PRIOR TO DUKE: Two-year member of the football program at New Mexico State (2022-23) and two-year member at Coffeyville Community College (2020-21) … 2023 Second Team All-Conference USA and 2021 First Team Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) All-Conference selection … in 28 games (5 starts) at New Mexico State, rushed 220 times for 1,173 yards (5.33) with nine TDs and recorded 34 receptions for 351 yards (10.32) with five scores ... accounted for 14 TDs (nine rushing and five receiving) for 84 points … rushed for a career-high 144 yards on 11 carries with one TD against Hawaii in 2022 … tallied 50+ rushing yards on eight occasions and 30+ rushing yards 16 times … registered 10+ rushing attempts in seven games, including 13 against New Mexico … tallied a 57-yard scamper against Hawaii on Sept. 24, 2022 … posted two rushing scores in a 58-21 victory over Western Illinois … recorded eight games with 20+ receiving yards, including 50 yards against UTEP on September 10, 2022 … secured 2+ receptions on nine occasions, including four against Hawaii on September 23, 2023 … registered two receiving TDs against UTEP in 2022 … helped New Mexico State to 17 victories and two bowl appearances (2022 Quick Lane and 2023 New Mexico) over a two-year span, including an appearance in the 2023 Conference USA championship game … in 14 games (8 starts) at Coffeyville CC, rushed 160 times for 970 yards (6.06) with 11 TDs and recorded eight receptions for 36 yards (4.50) ... accounted for 11 TDs (all rushing) for 66 points … posted eight games with 50+ rushing yards, including three 100+ yard games (Highland CC – Spring 2021; Butler CC – Spring 2021 & Butler CC – Fall 2021) … recorded 227 yards on 20 carries against Butler CC on October 2, 2021 … added 24 carries for 154 yards with four TDs against Butler CC on April 25, 2021 … notched two games with multiple rushing TDs (4 vs. Butler CC in Spring 2021 & 2 vs. Butler CC in Fall 2021) … earned a career-long 82-yard TD scamper in a 35-21 victory over Butler CC on October 2, 2021 … attended Homer and played for coach Richie Casey … four-year all-conference selection as a running back, earning all-state honors as a junior and senior … also notched two-time all-conference honors as a return specialist (2016 and 2020) … also participated in basketball.

PERSONAL: Graduated from Coffeyville CC in May 2022 with a degree in business … added a master’s degree in individual studies from New Mexico State in May 2024 … enrolled in Duke’s continuing studies program ... son of Jacqueline Thomas.