Jaivian Thomas, a running back who transferred from Cal to UCLA, could have a season like Kenneth Walker III's breakout year at Michigan State in 2021 if a few things go right this season.
First, let's look at what Kenneth Walker III did in his 2021 season.
Walker ran for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns, plus one more touchdown as a receiver, for a total of 19 touchdowns in 2021. He was the best in the FBS at yards after contact, 20-yard carries, and forcing missed tackles, which showed how skilled he was at making and creating plays as an elite running back. He was the featured running back; that was not necessarily the case in his two seasons at Wake Forest. As the lead back for the Spartans, he carried the ball 263 times.
The offensive scheme was a fit for him. In 2021, Michigan State's offense was called "Multiple," which showed off Walker's strengths as a strong, quick runner. The hope is that the offensive scheme at UCLA will fit Jaivian Thomas and allow him to be an elite running back for the Bruins in 2025.
Walker's play helped Michigan State finish the season with an 11-2 record. He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and won the Doak Walker Award. The hope would be that Thomas helps lead UCLA to a 10-plus win season and that he will be honored and given the recognition at season's end for his performance on the field for UCLA in 2025.
Now, let's look at how Jaivian Thomas could do something similar at UCLA.
Thomas is currently expected to be UCLA's starting running back, so he has a chance to get over 200 carries this season for the Bruins. He had a decent season at Cal in 2024, rushing for 626 yards and seven touchdowns on only 100 carries. That's an impressive 6.3 yards per carry. This level of efficiency shows that he can make the most of his touches. He is expected to get double the carries at UCLA and possibly rush for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025.
Thomas has been viewed to have "good speed and explosiveness," as well as good vision, balance, and strength, which help him run well between the tackles and make big plays. His nickname "Jet" shows how fast he can go. These traits are similar to the ones that helped Walker do so well in 2021.
The offensive scheme and coaching at UCLA with new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri and head coach DeShaun Foster, who used to be an NFL running back, are expected to stress a balanced offense with a strong running game that hopefully will greatly benefit Thomas. Thomas may have plenty of opportunities to succeed in a favorable environment with this emphasis on the running game and a stronger offensive line.
Thomas already showed that he can make big plays at Cal, like a 75-yard touchdown run against Syracuse last season. He can quickly rack up yards and touchdowns if he keeps breaking off long runs and making defenders miss tackles.
In short, Thomas possesses the necessary skills, an opportunity to play, and a favorable offensive scheme that could enable him to have an impact at UCLA comparable to that of Kenneth Walker III. His ability to get a lot of yards and touchdowns on a lot of carries in a run-heavy offense will be the main reason for such a breakout season.