SEC Media Days is just under a week away. Tennessee football has announced its representatives, and they shouldn’t come as any surprise.
Defensive lineman Omari Thomas as well as quarterback Joe Milton and tight end Jacob Warren will represent the Vols in Nashville.
Looking at Thomas, let’s dive into why he earned a trip to Nashville as well as what we can expect him to be asked.
Why Thomas will be at SEC Media Days
After defense was considered the downfall of the 2022 Vols, it is only right that a defensive player heads to SEC Media Days. Thomas make sense for that choice.
An everyday starter at defensive tackle, Thomas has anchored the Vols’ defense for the past two seasons. As Tennessee prioritizes the defensive side of the ball more, it makes sense for a defensive player to end up at media days.
Thomas is perfect for that role. And he is a natural leader.
Why Thomas matters
Thomas is a leader inside the Tennessee locker room, and the SEC as a whole. He was a member of the team’s leadership council and Thomas served as Tennessee’s SEC Football Leadership Council representative for two straight seasons.
It also helps that he is from the Tri-Star State, hailing from Memphis. Thomas has 57 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble in his career while starting 19 games and seeing action in 36 games.
What will Thomas be asked
Can Joe Milton throw the ball 110 yards in the air? Is it hard to sack Joe Milton in practice? What does Nico Iamaleava look like in practoce?
Will Tennessee’s defense make a jump in 2023?
The latter is the more important question, and it is what Thomas is being sent to Nashville to answer. He will be there to provide a sense of improvement on the defensive side, a unit that Tim Banks has recruited heavily to improve.
