Jai'Den Thomas
Jai'Den Thomas
Beats you as a runner and a receiver. Jai'Den Thomas has been at UNLV through two head coaches in three seasons. Two straight seasons of it now: All-Mountain West again in 2025. The receipt on tape: 147 rush yds, 16 rec yds against Idaho State, Week 1, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- recognition record
- game log
Career Arc
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2025)
All-Mountain West
Coaching Lineage · 2023–2025
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Barry Odom → Dan Mullen. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Dan Mullen
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 3 · RecognizedR09 · All-Conference HM / 2nd team
All-Conference HM / 2nd team. Conference recognition has started.
Recognition
Production
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2025)
All-Mountain West
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2025
W 38–31
vs Idaho State
147 rush yds (10 car) · 3 TD
Edged out Idaho State at home in a shootout.
How he plays
Play style
Threatens defenses in every dimension — rushing, receiving, third-down.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
UNLV
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · UNLV
Returning around him
- 15% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- Transfer portal: +0 net (15 in / 15 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
UNLV · Last season: 10-4 · Talent rank #51 · 2026 recruiting class #63
DNA match
Player DNA
Complete Back
Threatens defenses in every dimension — rushing, receiving, third-down.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Sutton Smith’s 2025 season.
Matches Sutton on
Differs from Sutton on
Through 3 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Dylan Riley’s path through Boise State.
Matches Dylan on
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Nate Noel's junior season at App State (2022).
Matches Nate on
Differs from Nate on
Player DNA
Players who play like Jai'Den Thomas
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2025
Peak #202
Peaked at #202 this season.
Development
Development Trajectory · rushing yards
2023–2025+106%
Up 106% from first season to most-recent.