Tennessee Vols player that had to medically retire from football will serve as a captain for game against New Mexico State
Tennessee Vols defensive back Jourdan Thomas suffered a career ending injury ahead of the 2024 season.
The Tennessee Vols announced that Jourdan Thomas, who suffered a career ending injury ahead of the 2024 season, will serve as a captain for UT’s game on Saturday against New Mexico State.
Quarterback Joey Aguilar, defensive back William Wright, and defensive back Jalen McMurray will also serve as captains.
Jourdan Thomas has transitioned to a student coach in the wake of his career ending injury
Thomas played in 25 games for the Vols in 2022 and 2023. He was poised to play in an even bigger role in 2024 before tearing his ACL in a preseason practice.
Unfortunately for Thomas, the ACL injury ended up being more devastating than anyone realized.
“I think Jourdan Thomas is going to medical redshirt this year,” said VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs in July. “I don’t think he’s going to play. I don’t think anybody — and as a media person, it’s none of our business to get into it, because it’s up to Jourdan to talk about it — but I don’t think the severity of that injury was really conveyed when he got hurt. That was not a simple torn ACL injury. There was a lot more involved there with him. His road to recovery is a long road, so we’ll see.”
Rocky Top Insider revealed last month that Thomas also tore his LCL and PCL, tore his hamstring tendon off the bone, and tore the peroneal nerve in his leg. Rocky Top Insider also reported that the tear of Thomas’ peroneal nerve “paralyzed his dorsiflexor, causing drop foot” (you can read more about Thomas and his journey in the story from Rocky Top Insider).
“Jourdan can do whatever he wants to,” said Vols head coach Josh Heupel in October. “He can go be an elite preacher [and] impact people that way. It can be in the business world. He’s going to find a tremendous amount of success. I think it’s cool that he sees something in coaching, about impacting other people.”
Thomas has transitioned to being a student coach at Tennessee as a result of his injury.
On Saturday, though, Thomas will head to midfield to serve as a captain for the Volunteers.
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