Former Vol Dallas Thomas Working As Miami Dolphins Starting Left Guard

When the Miami Dolphins selected Dallas Thomas in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, his versatility was the main attraction.

Thomas started the final 37 games of his career at Tennessee, with 25 of those starts coming at left tackle and 12 coming at left guard (he was shifted to left guard to make room for Antonio Richardson at left tackle).

While it was obvious to most that Thomas projected as a guard at the next level, the fact he could play at left tackle, if needed, was a huge plus for the Dolphins.

Unfortunately for Thomas, his rookie season was not the model of consistency that he showed at Tennessee.

A torn labrum, which Thomas suffered at the 2013 Senior Bowl, took it’s toll on Thomas and he never looked like a first-team offensive lineman last season.

But it’s a new year and Thomas is now fully recovered from his injury. As a result, he’s getting some first-team reps in OTA’s as the Dolphins address their struggling offensive line.

If Dallas Thomas ends up being named the starting left guard for the Dolphins, it means that Miami will likely have two former Vols starting along their offensive line.

Ja’Wuan James, the Dolphins’ first round pick earlier this month, will almost certainly be the starting right tackle. 

Dolphins beat writer Omar Kelly, who has previously been critical of former Volunteers, even predicted on Tuesday that Thomas and James will be starting in 2014. 

It’s great to see the former Vols doing well at the next level, but it also a grim reminder of the massive amount of talent that Tennessee lost on their offensive line.

That loss of talent could very well end up being the achilles heel of the 2014 Tennessee Volunteers.