Starling Thomas V

Starling Thomas V (born January 25, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UAB Blazers.

Starling Thomas V

No. 24 – Arizona Cardinals
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(2000-01-25) January 25, 2000 (age 25) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Ramsay (Birmingham)
College:	UAB (2018–2022)
NFL draft:	2023: undrafted
Career history
Detroit Lions (2023)* Arizona Cardinals (2023–present)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:	Injured reserve
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles: 85 Pass deflections: 11 Forced fumbles: 1 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Thomas was born on January 25, 2000, and grew up in Birmingham, Alabama.^[1] He attended Ramsay High School and was a top two-way player, being ranked a three-star prospect.^[1][2] He placed as the 145th-best cornerback recruit nationally and the 53rd-best player in the state, and chose to commit to UAB over Middle Tennessee, Memphis and Southern Miss, among others.^[2][3][4]

College career

Thomas saw immediate playing time as a true freshman in 2018, appearing in 12 games while recording three pass breakups and 10 tackles.^[5][6] He also saw action as a return specialist.^[1] The following year, he started all 14 games and posted 27 tackles, one fumble recovered and his first career interception, made against North Texas.^[1][5] Although projected to be starter again in 2020, Thomas suffered a torn ACL that kept him out the entire season.^[5] He started all 13 games when he returned in 2021, posting 41 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions, earning honorable mention all-conference honors.^[1][5] As a senior in 2022, Thomas was named first-team all-conference after allowing receptions on only 37.9% of passes thrown at him with 13 passes defended.^[7] He played in the East–West Shrine Bowl after the season ended.^[7]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
5 ft 10+1⁄8 in (1.78 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	30+5⁄8 in (0.78 m)	9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m)	4.38 s	1.59 s	2.54 s	4.36 s	7.29 s	37.5 in (0.95 m)	10 ft 5 in (3.18 m)	14 reps
All values from Pro Day[8]

Detroit Lions

Although various sources projected Thomas as a late-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, he ended up going unselected. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent.^[7][9] He was waived on August 29, 2023.^[10]

Arizona Cardinals

A day after being waived by the Lions, Thomas was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals.^[11] He played in 12 games with seven starts in 2023, recording 38 tackles and five passes defensed. He was named a starting corner the following season, starting 15 of 17 games, recording 47 tackles, six passes defensed, and a forced fumble.

During training camp in 2025, Thomas suffered a torn ACL and was ruled out for the season.^[12]