University of Tennessee Athletics
Thomas Represents Volunteers on SEC Leadership Council
February 06, 2024 | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –Tennessee defensive lineman Omari Thomas represented the Volunteers on the Southeastern Conference Football Leadership Council in Birmingham last weekend.
The Memphis, Tennessee, native majoring in journalism and electronic media, is serving on the council for the third straight year. He enters his fourth season with the program in 2024 after maintaining a starting role on the defensive line.
The meeting encompassed, talking with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, reviewing NCAA and SEC legislative items, a conversation with SEC Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Katie O'Neal, and engagement with football officials on rules of the game, student-athlete/referee interaction and careers in officiating. The group also reviewed SEC student-athlete compliance regulations, NCAA transfer portal restrictions and opportunities involving decision-making around their finances.
Thomas described the opportunity to attend the meeting as amazing and a blessing.
"I know my teammates and my coaching staff look at me to be a leader for this program," Thomas said. "I embrace that role, so I just love the fact that people think highly of me, and I do everything just trying to be positive so I am not letting the people who trust in me down."
Thomas was one of 14 league representatives attending the yearly meeting.
"We spoke with Michael Haddix Jr., who is a financial advisor," Thomas said. He gave us a lot of tips on taxes and different things like LLCs that will benefit us as more than football players."
The Football Leadership Council is one of three components of the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council. The other two components are the Men's and Women's Basketball Leadership Councils. Student-Athlete Leadership Councils for the sports of football and men's and women's basketball, along with the conference's longstanding Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), provide student-athletes with additional opportunities to engage with campus leaders and conference office staff. The councils serve as a conduit of communication to the conference office on issues related to student-athlete experience and student-athlete wellness.
Thomas played in 12 games in the 2023 season, recording 35 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one blocked kick and one sack. He was a vital member of Tennessee's nine-win season, registering his best game of the season against South Carolina. The senior tallied three total tackles, one TFL and one sack. Thomas helped cap off the season with a strong shutout win against No. 19 Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, 35-0.
