Malachi Thomas
Malachi Thomas
Just keeps getting the ball, series after series. Three head coaches in five seasons, at two different programs. The receipt: 68 rush yds, 2 receptions against Michigan — Week 10, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2021–2025
3 coachesPlayed under 3 different head coaches: Jeff Brohm, Ryan Walters, and Barry Odom. Multi-era developmental context.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Barry Odom
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Purdue | 53 | 243 | 4.6 | 0 | -- |
| 2024 | Virginia Tech | 43 | 165 | 3.8 | 1 | -- |
| 2023 | Virginia Tech | 83 | 381 | 4.6 | 2 | -- |
| 2022 | Virginia Tech | 37 | 146 | 3.9 | 1 | -- |
| 2021 | Virginia Tech | 93 | 440 | 4.7 | 3 | -- |
| Career | 309 | 1,375 | 4.4 | 7 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Purdue | 11 | 99 | 9.0 | 2 | -- |
| 2024 | Virginia Tech | 4 | 25 | 6.2 | 0 | -- |
| 2023 | Virginia Tech | 9 | 49 | 5.4 | 0 | -- |
| 2022 | Virginia Tech | 13 | 91 | 7.0 | 1 | -- |
| 2021 | Virginia Tech | 2 | 33 | 16.5 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 39 | 297 | 7.6 | 3 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2025
W 34–17
vs Southern Illinois
14 rush yds (6 car)
How he plays
Play style
Built to take 20+ carries per game. Volume is the value.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Purdue
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Purdue
Returning around him
- 54% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- Transfer portal: +5 net (29 in / 24 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Purdue · Last season: 2-10 · Talent rank #54 · 2026 recruiting class #55
DNA match
Player DNA
Workhorse
Built to take 20+ carries per game. Volume is the value.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Omar Fattah’s 2021 season.
Matches Omar on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a graduate, his production profile tracks closest to Jalen Berger's graduate season at UCLA (2024).
Matches Jalen on
Differs from Jalen on
Development
Development Trajectory · rushing yards
2021–2025-45%
Sharp dropoff (-45%) — career inflection point.