Defensive tackle E.J. Thomas came to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in January 2023 as the logical option to be a potential replacement for the graduated Devonnsha Maxwell, a Football Championship Subdivision All-American who had just completed his Mocs career as the Southern Conference’s all-time leader in sacks.
Thomas was coming off an All-America season of his own, albeit at the junior college level while compiling 13 tackles for loss and five sacks at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, California.
And then, in the last week of spring practices for UTC, Thomas tore an ACL for the second time in five years. However, because UTC starts and finishes that phase of its offseason work so early (the final practice/scrimmage occurs the Friday before spring break), Thomas was able to come back and contribute in 2023, notching 10 tackles (including 1.5 for loss) for the Mocs, who reached the second round of the FCS playoffs.
Returning to his best form is something that may not ever happen for the 6-foot-3, 310-pound senior from Alabama, but Thomas approaches every day with a smile — literally — and a desire to attempt to get back there.
“I couldn’t do it,” defensive line coach Julian Miller said of the infectious positive personality Thomas shows despite past setbacks.