Brandon Thomas remembers sitting alone in a room, thinking about what he couldn't do.

This near the end of the 2021 season, after Thomas had become Memphis football's top running back but also after he'd suffered multiple concussions and been relegated to a dark room in his house.

"It wasn't just the injury, it was more so the fact that I couldn't help my brothers," Thomas said. "Honestly, that's what it was. I'll help the team in any way they need me to, or any way I can. That was just the thing that had me depressed. I used to think about it all the time, because it's just a lot of time to yourself."

There have been plenty of ups and downs. After rushing for 669 yards in 2021, he missed three of the Tigers' final four games. He started in 2022, but then suffered a season-ending injury and missed all of spring practice in 2023.

He returned to the field last season, but the running back room suddenly looked a lot different — Blake Watson was the leading rusher and Sutton Smith had a key role behind him. Watson was a standout for the Tigers in 2023, but he had one glaring weakness — he had a knack for fumbling near the end zone. So Thomas stepped in to an entirely new role, serving as Memphis' goal-line back.

He stayed this year for his final year of eligibility, and if he comes on the field for the Tigers (1-0) on Saturday (11 a.m., ESPNU) against Troy (0-1) at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, he's more likely than not to end up in the end zone.

"People sometimes forget: Brandon Thomas has been here a long, long time," offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey said before the season. "Played a lot of football for us."

How Brandon Thomas changed his mindset

Thomas knew before the 2023 season that he wasn't going to be the lead back anymore. But he also knew from his time away from the game that he would accept any role he could get, inspired by the feeling that he couldn't help his teammates when he was off the field.

He still remembers being out, with nothing but time to think about football, his life, everything. And Kaislee, his daughter.

"Everything I do, I really do it for my daughter," said Thomas. "She really gives me the drive to keep going. When I do see her, it's like a restart for me and it helps my mental, too. When I see here, I'm refreshed, happy, ready to go, ready to do anything."

The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Thomas was ready for the goal-line role — and the pressure that comes with it.

"Imagine being the goal-line guy and coming in the game," he said. "All the pressure's on you. Most teams know where the ball is going if I come in the game."

He had nine touchdowns last season — on only 39 carries. That means he scored more than a quarter of the time he touched the ball.

Thomas will be an important part of the running back room alongside Mario Anderson and Greg Desrosiers after starter Sutton Smith suffered an injury during the season-opening win against North Alabama. Fans got to see a rarity in that game — Thomas coming onto the field and getting stuffed at the goal line. Odds are he'll find the end zone against Troy.

He still remembers being the freshman in the room, looking up to Kylan Watkins and trying to work on his game. Now he's the one everyone looks up to, and he often gets talked about by coaches even if they aren't asked directly about him.

"It's like a rollercoaster ride," he said. "Ups and downs, but I'll do whatever to help the team."

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Brandon Thomas found himself — and a critical role for Memphis