CULVER CITY, CA — Tennessee redshirt freshman Jaida Thomas has been recognized as one of the best rookies in the country according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. The forward from Irving, Texas, was rated No. 11 on the publication's Women's Freshmen Top 100 midseason list that was released Wednesday night.

Thomas has made an immediate impact for the Big Orange in her first season on the active roster, scoring a team-high 12 goals with five game-winners during the 2020-21 campaign. Her dozen scores lead the SEC, rank fourth in the NCAA and are the second-most by a freshman in Tennessee history. Additionally, her five game-winning goals also lead the conference, rank second in the country and are the most ever recorded by a UT freshman.

Her stellar rookie campaign has been well decorated by the conference office, as Thomas earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team in the fall and has been named SEC Freshman of the Week four times this season. She was tabbed as the SEC Offensive Player of the Week on February 22 after opening the spring semester with five goals and an assist against Gardner-Webb and Appalachian State.

Thomas is the highest-rated Vol on the TDS Women's Freshmen Top 100 since two-time All-American Katie Cousins was rated No. 10 at the midway point of the 2015 campaign.

Source: UTADA