Terrion Thomas has finally shed his training wheels.
In Grace Christian's first scrimmage of the 2026 TSSAA football season, Thomas' legs spun as he zoomed by Clinton defenders for the opening touchdown on July 31.
Although no one kept track of the score, Thomas, who spent the entire 2025 season wheeling across the sideline in a scooter with his right foot in a boot, relished the feeling of reaching the end zone.
"It felt great being out there with my team again," Thomas told Knox News. "Finally."
Thomas was a Mr. Football semifinalist in 2024 in Division II-AA coming off a ridiculous season with 1,265 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on 245 carries, and 69
catches for 1,044 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He also received an offer from Indiana.
He began the 2025 preseason on a similar note witha highlight touchdown reception in a scrimmage against Clinton. That would be Thomas' last catch of the season, though, as he suffered an injury that kept him off the field in Grace's run to the Division II-AA state quarterfinals.
As he faced the Dragons again, instead of soaring for an incredible catch, Thomas lined up at quarterback, kept the ball on an option, trusted his lower body and sprinted into the end zone.
"Physically, that was a long process to get back to where he was, and he handled that well," said Grace football coach Justin Price. "But with Terrion, how he matured as a person through that has been phenomenal to watch. God has used that in such a big way for him to become not only a better football player, but a better person, better teammate.
"The way he handled that so maturely, it was incredible to see. And now to see him out here, in the scrimmage he got hurt in last year, scoring a touchdown, playing, smiling, having fun. It's such a blessing and we're so excited for Terrion to be at this point."
Thomas was fine getting tackled in the scrimmage, but he wasn't always sure his body would hold up.
"Getting over the mental part and knowing what I could do," Thomas said about the hardest part of the recovery process. "I started playing basketball late in the season and I just knew from there, I'd be good. It's been hard, but it's also taught me a lot to just keep fighting."
Price plans to move the senior athlete all over the field, just like he did in 2024. He'll split more carries, though, with his brother and sophomore running back, JV Stinson. Stinson erupted for nearly 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns for Grace with Thomas on the sideline.
"It feels good," Thomas said about sharing the field with his brother. "You can't stop him, so it's going to be hard to stop us."
Thomas won't be the only major addition to the Rams' potent offense in 2026. Former Farragut quarterback Corbin Hobson transferred to Grace and spent the evening lobbing deep touchdown passes to his new teammates.
Hobson's chemistry with the team is evolving quickly, thanks to Thomas.
"Ever since I came in January, he's been really welcoming to me," Hobson said. "He's brought me up as a teammate. Really good team guy, especially coming off his injury. Excited to see what he does this year, we're just going to hit the ground running."
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why Terrion Thomas' foot injury is no longer an issue ahead of TSSAA football season
