Starling Thomas V

NoteCARDS:

• Signed by the Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent out of UAB in 2023, was released and signed by the Cardinals just prior to the start of the '23 regular season.
• In his first two NFL seasons (2023-24), appeared in 29 games (22 starts) and totaled 85 tackles, two tackles for loss, 11 passes defensed and a forced fumble.
• His 22 starts are the most among all NFL players who entered the league as rookie free agents since 2023.
• Member of a '23 rookie class that led the NFL in total offensive/defensive snaps (4,654) and total starts (64) by rookies.

NoteCARDS:

• Signed by the Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent out of UAB in 2023, was released and signed by the Cardinals just prior to the start of the '23 regular season.
• In his first two NFL seasons (2023-24), appeared in 29 games (22 starts) and totaled 85 tackles, two tackles for loss, 11 passes defensed and a forced fumble.
• His 22 starts are the most among all NFL players who entered the league as rookie free agents since 2023.
• Member of a '23 rookie class that led the NFL in total offensive/defensive snaps (4,654) and total starts (64) by rookies.

Pro Career:

Originally entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent with Detroit on 5/12/23. Released by Detroit on 8/29/23 and claimed off waivers by the Cardinals on 8/30/23.

2024: Made 15 starts and played all 17 games ... totaled 47 tackles (one for loss), six passes defensed and a forced fumble ... started @ Buf (9/8) where he recorded three solo tackles and a pass defensed ... started vs LAR (9/15) and had four tackles (one solo) ... started vs. Det (9/22) and registered three tackles (one solo) ... had two solo tackles and a pass defensed vs. Was (9/29) ... started @ SF (10/6) posting one solo tackle ... had one solo tackle @ GB (10/13) ... registered five tackles (three solo, one for loss) and his first-career forced fumble in the win vs. LAC (10/21), the FF was a pivotal play as it was recovered by S Jalen Thompson in the end zone for a touchback and prevented Chargers WR Jalen Reagor from scoring ... recorded three tackles (two solo) @ Mia (10/27) ... recorded a season-high six solo tackles and one pass defensed vs. Chi (11/3) ... recorded five tackles (four solo) and one pass defensed in the win vs. NYJ (11/10) ... had three tackles (two solo) @ Sea (11/24) ... had one tackle @ Min (12/1) ... posted two tackles vs. Sea (12/8) ... had two tackles in the win vs. NE (12/15) ... posted a tackle and a pass defensed @ Car (12/22) ... recorded a tackle @ LAR (12/28) ... had four tackles in the win vs. SF (1/5/25).

2023: Appeared in 12 games (seven starts) in his first NFL season ... had 38 tackles (35 solo), one tackle for loss and five passes defensed ... inactive @ Was (9/10) ... inactive vs. NYG (9/17) ... inactive vs. Dal (9/24) ... inactive @ SF (10/1) ... made NFL debut vs. Cin (10/8) seeing action on special teams ... played @ LAR (10/15) on both defense and special teams ... made first career start @ Sea (10/22) posting four tackles (one for loss) and a pass defensed ... posted one solo tackle and a pass defensed vs. Bal (10/29) ... had three tackles @ Cle (11/5) ... recorded one tackle vs. Atl (11/12) ... recorded two solo tackles @ Hou (11/19) ... tallied three tackles vs. LAR (11/26) ... inactive (ankle) @ Pit (12/3) ... posted five tackles and one pass defensed vs. SF (12/17) ... recorded a career-high eight tackles @ Chi (12/24) ... had five tackles and a pass defensed @ Phi (12/31) ... posted five tackles and a pass defensed vs. Sea (1/7/24).

College:

Spent five years (2018-22) at UAB and played 53 games (40 starts), finishing his college career with 108 tackles, 29 passes defensed, three INTs, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble … also returned 23 punts for 167 yards (7.3 avg.) and 12 kickoffs for 224 yards (18.7 avg.) … earned first-team All-Conference USA honors as a senior in 2022 after starting all 13 games and totaling 30 tackles and a team-leading 15 passes defensed as well as returning 10 punts for 51 yards … earned All-Conference USA honorable mention honors at both cornerback and as a punt returner as a junior in 2021 after registering a career-best 41 tackles, eight passes defensed, two INTs, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery … also had 10 punt returns for 78 yards … helped UAB win its second-consecutive C-USA West Division title as a sophomore in 2019 after starting all 14 games and notching 27 tackles, three passes defensed, one INT and one fumble recovery … appeared in 13 games as a freshman in 2018 where he logged 10 tackles and three passes defensed.

Personal:

Attended Ramsay (Birmingham, AL) High School where he played cornerback, wide receiver, punt returner and kick returner … played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game as a senior in 2017 … plays for his late mother, Stephanie Williams, who passed away from cancer in 2018 when he was a freshman at UAB.