Tyler Thomas Transfers to South Alabama, Reunites with Twin Brother

UAB football transfer Tyler Thomas is set to join his twin brother, Trent, at South Alabama.

The 6-foot-4, 246-pound Tyler, a redshirt freshman defensive lineman, will be playing alongside Trent, a redshirt freshman tight end, on the Jaguars’ 2024 roster. Trent, who stands at 6-foot-5 and also weighs 246 pounds, already plays for South Alabama.

In 2023, Tyler saw action in four games for the UAB Blazers, registering one tackle. By retaining his redshirt status, he preserves four years of eligibility.

The Thomas twins excelled in both football and basketball during their time at Cottage Hill Christian Academy in Mobile. In their senior year (2022-23), they led their basketball team to the Class 3A South Regional final. Their father, Adam Thomas, serves as the head basketball coach and athletics director at Cottage Hill. Tyler earned first-team All-State honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association in both sports, while Trent received first-team recognition in football and second-team in basketball.

Interestingly, the Thomases are one of two sets of twins on the South Alabama roster for the upcoming season, which is quite uncommon in college sports. Devin Voisin, a starting wide receiver, and his twin brother Jaden, an All-Sun Belt Conference safety, are also returning for their sixth seasons with the Jaguars.

Tyler Thomas becomes the 10th scholarship player to join the South Alabama football team from the transfer portal during the 2024 post-spring window. Other new additions include running back Iverson Celestine (Tulane), wide receiver Micah Woods (Buffalo), tight end Rod Gibbs (Texas Southern), offensive linemen Ethan Hubbard (Duke) and Jayden Hobson (Mississippi State), defensive lineman Tre Brown (Texas Tech), outside linebacker Courtney McBride (Florida Atlantic), inside linebacker Darius McKenzie (Maine), and safety Trent Singleton (Mississippi State). All new recruits are enrolled in summer classes and actively participating in offseason workouts.

After finishing the 2023 season with a 7-6 record, South Alabama will begin preseason camp in early August, with their season opener set for August 31 at home against North Texas.