Related Bios
9 Tristan Thomas
Tristan Thomas
  • Height:
    5-9
  • Weight:
    170
  • Hometown:
    Akron, Ohio
  • Position:
    WR
  • Year:
    So.
  • High School:
    East
  • Previous College:
    Notre Dame College
  • gp
    10
  • yds
    134
  • yds/g
    13.4
  • td
    0
Bio

Sophomore (2024)

  • Led the team in rushing at 442 yards, yards per rush at 5.1 and five rushing touchdowns
  • Also caught 14 passes for 134 yards
  • 741 all-purpose yards topped the program
  • Delivered DC's best rushing performance of the year in the season finale at Bluffton with 230 yards and two touchdowns
  • Recorded the longest rush in program history with a 98-yard touchdown against Bluffton on Nov. 16, which gave the Yellow Jackets the lead in a narrow two-point win
  • Recipient of Male Individual Performance of the Year at the 2025 Swarm Awards for his record-breaking play against Bluffton

Personal

  • Majoring in sport management
  • 2023 graduate of East CLC in Akron
  • Played football, basketball, and track with four letters in each sport
  • Three-time First Team All-City and two-time All-District performer and honor roll student
  • Transferred from Notre Dame College in Ohio
  • Son of Renee Gaines and Terry Thomas
Recent games
Date Opponent Result
Oct 12 at #20 Saint Xavier (IL) L, 45-14
Oct 19 at Rose-Hulman (Ind.) L, 29-25
Oct 26 Madonna W, 55-27
Nov 2 at Taylor (IN) L, 63-12
Nov 9 Hanover (Ind.) L, 31-7
Nov 16 at Bluffton W, 23-21
Season Statistics
  Overall Conference
Receptions 14 -
Yards 134 -
Yards per game 13.4 -
Yards per catch 9.6 -
Touchdowns 0 -
Date Opponent Score comp att pct yds y/a td int sac yds
Sep 7 at #RV Concordia (MI) L, 34-10 - - - - - - - - -
Sep 14 at Saint Francis (IN) L, 64-36 - - - - - - - - -
Sep 21 Judson (IL) W, 38-20 - - - - - - - - -
Sep 28 Siena Heights L, 52-7 - - - - - - - - -
Oct 5 Manchester (Ind.) W, 35-3 - - - - - - - - -
Oct 12 at #20 Saint Xavier (IL) L, 45-14 - - - - - - - - -
Oct 19 at Rose-Hulman (Ind.) L, 29-25 - - - - - - - - -
Oct 26 Madonna W, 55-27 - - - - - - - - -
Nov 2 at Taylor (IN) L, 63-12 - - - - - - - - -
Nov 9 Hanover (Ind.) L, 31-7 - - - - - - - - -
Nov 16 at Bluffton W, 23-21 - - - - - - - - -
Date Opponent Score rush yds y/a lng td fum lost
Sep 7 at #RV Concordia (MI) L, 34-10 - - - - - - -
Sep 14 at Saint Francis (IN) L, 64-36 - - - - - - -
Sep 21 Judson (IL) W, 38-20 1 11 11.0 11 0 - -
Sep 28 Siena Heights L, 52-7 - - - - - - -
Oct 5 Manchester (Ind.) W, 35-3 2 13 6.5 8 1 - -
Oct 12 at #20 Saint Xavier (IL) L, 45-14 2 8 4.0 5 0 - -
Oct 19 at Rose-Hulman (Ind.) L, 29-25 14 71 5.1 26 1 - -
Oct 26 Madonna W, 55-27 13 50 3.8 13 1 2 0
Nov 2 at Taylor (IN) L, 63-12 9 27 3.0 12 0 - -
Nov 9 Hanover (Ind.) L, 31-7 10 32 3.2 10 0 - -
Nov 16 at Bluffton W, 23-21 35 230 6.6 98 2 1 0
Date Opponent Score rec yds y/r lng td fum lost
Sep 7 at #RV Concordia (MI) L, 34-10 - - - - - - -
Sep 14 at Saint Francis (IN) L, 64-36 2 33 16.5 21 0 - -
Sep 21 Judson (IL) W, 38-20 - - - - - - -
Sep 28 Siena Heights L, 52-7 - - - - - - -
Oct 5 Manchester (Ind.) W, 35-3 1 17 17.0 17 0 - -
Oct 12 at #20 Saint Xavier (IL) L, 45-14 - - - - - - -
Oct 19 at Rose-Hulman (Ind.) L, 29-25 1 14 14.0 14 0 - -
Oct 26 Madonna W, 55-27 1 16 16.0 16 0 2 0
Nov 2 at Taylor (IN) L, 63-12 3 28 9.3 16 0 - -
Nov 9 Hanover (Ind.) L, 31-7 4 13 3.3 5 0 - -
Nov 16 at Bluffton W, 23-21 2 13 6.5 8 0 1 0
Date Opponent Score fgm fga lng xpm xpa pts
Sep 7 at #RV Concordia (MI) L, 34-10 - - - - - -
Sep 14 at Saint Francis (IN) L, 64-36 - - - - - 0
Sep 21 Judson (IL) W, 38-20 - - - - - 0
Sep 28 Siena Heights L, 52-7 - - - - - 0
Oct 5 Manchester (Ind.) W, 35-3 - - - - - 0
Oct 12 at #20 Saint Xavier (IL) L, 45-14 - - - - - 0
Oct 19 at Rose-Hulman (Ind.) L, 29-25 - - - - - 0
Oct 26 Madonna W, 55-27 - - - 0 0 0
Nov 2 at Taylor (IN) L, 63-12 - - - 0 0 0
Nov 9 Hanover (Ind.) L, 31-7 - - - - - 0
Nov 16 at Bluffton W, 23-21 - - - - - 0
Date Opponent Score punt yds avg long in20 fc tb blk
Sep 7 at #RV Concordia (MI) L, 34-10 - - - - - - - -
Sep 14 at Saint Francis (IN) L, 64-36 - - - - - - - -
Sep 21 Judson (IL) W, 38-20 - - - - - - - -
Sep 28 Siena Heights L, 52-7 - - - - - - - -
Oct 5 Manchester (Ind.) W, 35-3 - - - - - - - -
Oct 12 at #20 Saint Xavier (IL) L, 45-14 - - - - - - - -
Oct 19 at Rose-Hulman (Ind.) L, 29-25 - - - - - - - -
Oct 26 Madonna W, 55-27 - - - - - - - -
Nov 2 at Taylor (IN) L, 63-12 - - - - - - - -
Nov 9 Hanover (Ind.) L, 31-7 - - - - - - - -
Nov 16 at Bluffton W, 23-21 - - - - - - - -
Date Opponent Score kr yds avg lng td pr yds avg lng td
Sep 7 at #RV Concordia (MI) L, 34-10 - - - - - - - - - -
Sep 14 at Saint Francis (IN) L, 64-36 - - - - - - - - - -
Sep 21 Judson (IL) W, 38-20 - - - - - - - - - -
Sep 28 Siena Heights L, 52-7 1 25 25.0 25 0 - - - - -
Oct 5 Manchester (Ind.) W, 35-3 1 52 52.0 52 0 - - - - -
Oct 12 at #20 Saint Xavier (IL) L, 45-14 4 49 12.3 17 0 - - - - -
Oct 19 at Rose-Hulman (Ind.) L, 29-25 1 13 13.0 13 0 - - - - -
Oct 26 Madonna W, 55-27 2 11 5.5 11 0 - - - - -
Nov 2 at Taylor (IN) L, 63-12 1 15 15.0 15 0 - - - - -
Nov 9 Hanover (Ind.) L, 31-7 - - - - - - - - - -
Nov 16 at Bluffton W, 23-21 1 0 0.0 0 0 - - - - -
Date Opponent Score gp rush rcv pr kr yds
Sep 7 at #RV Concordia (MI) L, 34-10 - - - - - -
Sep 14 at Saint Francis (IN) L, 64-36 1 - 33 - - 33
Sep 21 Judson (IL) W, 38-20 1 11 - - - 11
Sep 28 Siena Heights L, 52-7 1 - - - 25 25
Oct 5 Manchester (Ind.) W, 35-3 1 13 17 - 52 82
Oct 12 at #20 Saint Xavier (IL) L, 45-14 1 8 - - 49 57
Oct 19 at Rose-Hulman (Ind.) L, 29-25 1 71 14 - 13 98
Oct 26 Madonna W, 55-27 1 50 16 - 11 77
Nov 2 at Taylor (IN) L, 63-12 1 27 28 - 15 70
Nov 9 Hanover (Ind.) L, 31-7 1 32 13 - - 45
Nov 16 at Bluffton W, 23-21 1 230 13 - 0 243
Date Opponent Score pts rush rec kr pr int fum xpm fgm saf misc 2pt
Sep 7 at #RV Concordia (MI) L, 34-10 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sep 14 at Saint Francis (IN) L, 64-36 0 - 0 - - - - - - - 0 -
Sep 21 Judson (IL) W, 38-20 0 0 - - - - - - - - 0 -
Sep 28 Siena Heights L, 52-7 0 - - 0 - - - - - - 0 -
Oct 5 Manchester (Ind.) W, 35-3 6 1 0 0 - - - - - - 0 -
Oct 12 at #20 Saint Xavier (IL) L, 45-14 0 0 - 0 - - - - - - 0 -
Oct 19 at Rose-Hulman (Ind.) L, 29-25 6 1 0 0 - - 0 - - 0 0 0
Oct 26 Madonna W, 55-27 8 1 0 0 - - - 0 - - 0 1
Nov 2 at Taylor (IN) L, 63-12 0 0 0 0 - - - 0 - - 0 0
Nov 9 Hanover (Ind.) L, 31-7 0 0 0 - - - - - - - 0 -
Nov 16 at Bluffton W, 23-21 12 2 0 0 - - - - - - 0 -
Date Opponent Score tack ast tot sack lost tfl yds ff fr td int yds td brup blk saf
Sep 7 at #RV Concordia (MI) L, 34-10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sep 14 at Saint Francis (IN) L, 64-36 - - 0.0 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - - - -
Sep 21 Judson (IL) W, 38-20 0 1 1.0 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - - - -
Sep 28 Siena Heights L, 52-7 - - 0.0 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - - - -
Oct 5 Manchester (Ind.) W, 35-3 - - 0.0 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - - - -
Oct 12 at #20 Saint Xavier (IL) L, 45-14 - - 0.0 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - - - -
Oct 19 at Rose-Hulman (Ind.) L, 29-25 0 0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0
Oct 26 Madonna W, 55-27 - - 0.0 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - - - -
Nov 2 at Taylor (IN) L, 63-12 - - 0.0 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - - - -
Nov 9 Hanover (Ind.) L, 31-7 - - 0.0 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - - - -
Nov 16 at Bluffton W, 23-21 - - 0.0 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - - - -
gp comp att pct yds y/g y/a td int lg effic
2024-25 10 - - - - - - - - - 0.0
2025-26 2 - - - - - - - - - 0.0
Total 12 - - - - - - - - - 0.0

Career Stats: Passing

gp rush yds y/g avg td lg fum lost
2024-25 10 86 442 44.2 5.1 5 98 3 0
2025-26 2 37 237 118.5 6.4 3 46 - -
Total 12 123 679 56.6 5.5 8 98 3 0

Career Stats: Rushing

gp rec rec/g yds y/g avg td lg
2024-25 10 14 1.4 134 13.4 9.6 0 21
2025-26 2 1 0.5 5 2.5 5.0 0 5
Total 12 15 1.3 139 11.6 9.3 0 21

Career Stats: Receiving

gp fgm fga pct lg xpm xpa pct pts
2024-25 10 - - - - 0 0 - 0
2025-26 2 - - - - - - - 0
Total 12 - - - - 0 0 - 0

Career Stats: Kicking

gp punt yds avg lg in20 fc tb blk
2024-25 10 - - - - - - - -
2025-26 2 - - - - - - - -
Total 12 - - - - - - - -

Career Stats: Punting

kr yds avg td lg pr yds avg td lg
2024-25 11 165 15.0 0 52 - - - - -
2025-26 - - - - - - - - - -
Total 11 165 15.0 0 52 - - - - -

Career Stats: Returns

gp rush rcv pr kr yds ypg
2024-25 10 442 134 - 165 741 74.1
2025-26 2 237 5 - - 242 121.0
Total 12 679 139 - 165 983 81.9

Career Stats: All-Purpose

pts pts/g rush rec kr pr int fum xpm fgm 2pt misc
2024-25 32 3.2 5 0 0 - - 0 0 - 1 0
2025-26 18 9.0 3 0 - - - - - - - 0
Total 50 4.2 8 0 0 - - 0 0 - 1 0

Career Stats: Scoring

gp tkl ast tot tkl/g sck yds tfl yds ff fr yds int yds brup blk
2024-25 10 0 1 1.0 .1 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0
2025-26 2 - - 0.0 .0 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - -
Total 12 0 1 1.0 .1 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0

Career Stats: Defense

gp comp att pct yds y/g y/a td int lg effic
Event
Total 10 - - - - - - - - - 0.0
Conference - - - - - - - - - - 0.0
Exhibition - - - - - - - - - - 0.0
Location
Home 5 - - - - - - - - - 0.0
Away 5 - - - - - - - - - 0.0
Neutral - - - - - - - - - - 0.0
Result
Wins 4 - - - - - - - - - 0.0
Losses 6 - - - - - - - - - 0.0
Month
September 3 - - - - - - - - - 0.0
October 4 - - - - - - - - - 0.0
November 3 - - - - - - - - - 0.0

Splits Stats: Passing

gp rush yds y/g avg td lg fum lost
Event
Total 10 86 442 44.2 5.1 5 98 3 0
Conference - - - - - - - - -
Exhibition - - - - - - - - -
Location
Home 5 26 106 21.2 4.1 2 13 2 0
Away 5 60 336 67.2 5.6 3 98 1 0
Neutral - - - - - - - - -
Result
Wins 4 51 304 76.0 6.0 4 98 3 0
Losses 6 35 138 23.0 3.9 1 26 - -
Month
September 3 1 11 3.7 11.0 0 11 - -
October 4 31 142 35.5 4.6 3 26 2 0
November 3 54 289 96.3 5.4 2 98 1 0

Splits Stats: Rushing

gp rec rec/g yds y/g avg td lg
Event
Total 10 14 1.4 134 13.4 9.6 0 21
Conference - - - - - - - -
Exhibition - - - - - - - -
Location
Home 5 6 1.2 46 9.2 7.7 0 17
Away 5 8 1.6 88 17.6 11.0 0 21
Neutral - - - - - - - -
Result
Wins 4 4 1.0 46 11.5 11.5 0 17
Losses 6 10 1.7 88 14.7 8.8 0 21
Month
September 3 2 0.7 33 11.0 16.5 0 21
October 4 3 0.8 47 11.8 15.7 0 17
November 3 9 3.0 54 18.0 6.0 0 16

Splits Stats: Receiving

gp fgm fga pct lg xpm xpa pct pts
Event
Total 10 - - - - 0 0 - 0
Conference - - - - - - - - 0
Exhibition - - - - - - - - 0
Location
Home 5 - - - - 0 0 - 0
Away 5 - - - - 0 0 - 0
Neutral - - - - - - - - 0
Result
Wins 4 - - - - 0 0 - 0
Losses 6 - - - - 0 0 - 0
Month
September 3 - - - - - - - 0
October 4 - - - - 0 0 - 0
November 3 - - - - 0 0 - 0

Splits Stats: Kicking

gp punt yds avg lg in20 fc tb blk
Event
Total 10 - - - - - - - -
Conference - - - - - - - - -
Exhibition - - - - - - - - -
Location
Home 5 - - - - - - - -
Away 5 - - - - - - - -
Neutral - - - - - - - - -
Result
Wins 4 - - - - - - - -
Losses 6 - - - - - - - -
Month
September 3 - - - - - - - -
October 4 - - - - - - - -
November 3 - - - - - - - -

Splits Stats: Punting

kr yds avg td lg pr yds avg td lg
Event
Total 11 165 15.0 0 52 - - - - -
Conference - - - - - - - - - -
Exhibition - - - - - - - - - -
Location
Home 4 88 22.0 0 52 - - - - -
Away 7 77 11.0 0 17 - - - - -
Neutral - - - - - - - - - -
Result
Wins 4 63 15.8 0 52 - - - - -
Losses 7 102 14.6 0 25 - - - - -
Month
September 1 25 25.0 0 25 - - - - -
October 8 125 15.6 0 52 - - - - -
November 2 15 7.5 0 15 - - - - -

Splits Stats: Returns

gp rush rcv pr kr yds ypg
Event
Total 10 442 134 - 165 741 74.1
Conference - - - - - 0 -
Exhibition - - - - - 0 -
Location
Home 5 106 46 - 88 240 48.0
Away 5 336 88 - 77 501 100.2
Neutral - - - - - 0 -
Result
Wins 4 304 46 - 63 413 103.3
Losses 6 138 88 - 102 328 54.7
Month
September 3 11 33 - 25 69 23.0
October 4 142 47 - 125 314 78.5
November 3 289 54 - 15 358 119.3

Splits Stats: All-Purpose

pts pts/g rush rec kr pr int fum xpm fgm 2pt misc
Event
Total 32 3.2 5 0 0 - - 0 0 - 1 0
Conference 0 - - - - - - - - - - 0
Exhibition 0 - - - - - - - - - - 0
Location
Home 14 2.8 2 0 0 - - - 0 - 1 0
Away 18 3.6 3 0 0 - - 0 0 - 0 0
Neutral 0 - - - - - - - - - - 0
Result
Wins 26 6.5 4 0 0 - - - 0 - 1 0
Losses 6 1.0 1 0 0 - - 0 0 - 0 0
Month
September 0 0.0 0 0 0 - - - - - - 0
October 20 5.0 3 0 0 - - 0 0 - 1 0
November 12 4.0 2 0 0 - - - 0 - 0 0

Splits Stats: Scoring

gp tkl ast tot tkl/g sck yds tfl yds ff fr yds int yds brup blk
Event
Total 10 0 1 1.0 .1 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0
Conference - - - 0.0 - - - 0.0 - - - - - - - -
Exhibition - - - 0.0 - - - 0.0 - - - - - - - -
Location
Home 5 0 1 1.0 .2 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - -
Away 5 0 0 0.0 .0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0
Neutral - - - 0.0 - - - 0.0 - - - - - - - -
Result
Wins 4 0 1 1.0 .3 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - -
Losses 6 0 0 0.0 .0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0
Month
September 3 0 1 1.0 .3 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - -
October 4 0 0 0.0 .0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0
November 3 - - 0.0 .0 - - 0.0 - - - - - - - -

Splits Stats: Defense

News mentions
Yellow Jackets reclaim The Hammer with 23-21 win at Bluffton
  • Article
  • November 16, 2024
Yellow Jackets reclaim The Hammer with 23-21 win at Bluffton
  • November 16, 2024
Lead slips away from DC in final minute at Rose-Hulman
  • Article
  • October 19, 2024
Lead slips away from DC in final minute at Rose-Hulman
  • October 19, 2024
Defense dazzles as Defiance delivers homecoming victory over Manchester
  • Article
  • October 05, 2024
Defense dazzles as Defiance delivers homecoming victory over Manchester
  • October 05, 2024