OXFORD — Football has Ole Miss running back Domonique Thomas’ heart and always will. But far bigger things have come into his life the last few years, and family means more than anything now.
Thomas is from Ohatchee, Alabama, and began his college career at Union College, an NAIA school in Kentucky with about 1,000 undergraduate students. In six games with the Bulldogs in 2020-21, Thomas ran for 527 yards and six touchdowns.
In March of 2021, Thomas’ mother and grandparents were killed in an EF-3 tornado that struck his hometown, according to WRBC News. His sister was the lone survivor from the storm; Thomas was with Union getting ready for a game against St. Andrews University when the tragedy occurred, according to Sports Illustrated, as the NAIA played its 2020 season in the spring due to COVID-19.
“My little sister (got me through it), because she was the only one that survived in the house,” Thomas said Tuesday. “I just know I had to be strong for her and, really just still doing that and just trying to set an example for her and do everything that I can to take care of her.”
Thomas’ sister is among his motivations when he steps on the football field.
“I love football … my first words were ‘hut hut,’” Thomas said with a smile. “ … But I do want to take care of my sister. I always wanted to take care of my family.”
Thomas walked on at Clemson in January 2022 and earned a scholarship before that season started; per Sports Illustrated, “His dream was to come to Clemson” according to head coach Dabo Swinney. Thomas spent two seasons with the Tigers and ran for 147 yards, including 42 rushing yards against Charleston Southern in 2023.
Thomas entered the transfer portal following the 2023 season and enrolled at Georgia State in the spring of 2024. In February, however, head coach Shawn Elliott resigned and took a job at South Carolina, leading Thomas to enter the portal once again. Nearly 20 schools reached out to him, he said, but the offense at Ole Miss really stuck out to him.
“I watched film, and I really loved the offensive scheme,” Thomas said. “Really, just looking at the opportunity for the future. I have the rest of this season and two more after this. So, I mean really just that opportunity.”
Thomas received six carries against Furman but had just six carries total over the following seven games. He was called into action rather unexpectedly at Arkansas last weekend when leading rusher Henry Parrish Jr. went down with what appeared to be a leg injury. Parrish was helped off the field and eventually carted away. Thomas stepped up in his stead, rushing for 41 yards, which was second to only senior quarterback Jaxson Dart in the game.
With Parrish now out, Thomas could see a significant role come Saturday vs. No. 2 Georgia.
“Coach (Kevin) Smith, he always told me, like even when I first got here, he told me to prepare like the starter every week,” Thomas said. “So, I just knew what I was doing when I got in, because I’ve been preparing that way since I got here.”
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