55 Year Old Becomes Oldest NCAA D-1 Football Player

55 year old South Carolina State running back Joe Thomas Sr., had a 3-yard carry in Saturday’s game against Savannah State on senior day, making history as the oldest player to participate in an NCAA Division 1 Game and the oldest walk-on running back for South Carolina State, the team his son Joe Thomas Jr played for from 2010 – 2013.  Joe Jr. is now a linebacker for the Green Bay Packers.

On Friday, Joe Jr. was a little nervous about how his father would do on the field. “I am a little worried,” Joe Jr. told ESPN. “I know his body might be a little fragile. I’m going to try to get the coach not to run him on one of those stretch plays. I’m going to try to get him to run straight downhill.”

Before the recession wiped out his job, Joe Sr. was an entrepreneur in South Carolina with a construction company and a training facility. Four years ago he decided to go back to school and pursue a degree. He’s now studying engineering and of course, living his dreams of playing college football. He practiced with the team for four years and finally on senior day, he got his shot.

“It’s been crazy for me,” Joe Jr. said. “I never thought you’d see a 55-year-old running back. I’m just proud of him. He made his mind up to do something and stuck to it.”