CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – After transferring to Virginia from Arkansas State ahead of last season, Makilan Thomas was prepared to leave his mark on a new program. Then, he broke his right foot just days into fall camp.

But after a full year of a long and difficult rehab, Thomas was listed at the top of the depth chart at right guard and started for the ‘Hoos in their opening 34-8 win against North Carolina State on Aug. 29.

“It was amazing,” he said. “It just felt good to be one again, just to be out there and just ball out and do our thing.”

Thomas said the broken foot was the first major injury of his career and kept him off the field longer than he would have liked.

The lengthy rehabilitation process wore on him, but he found support from his mother, who gave him the strength needed to push through.

“She stayed with me that entire week, and she just uplifted me, and I needed that,” Thomas said going into Friday’s home game against Norfolk State.

He added that some home cooking helped as well.

“She made some barbecue beans and barbecue chicken and mac and cheese that was delicious,” Thomas said. “I still remember that taste. I’m like, ‘Yeah, we need to redo that.'”

Offensive coordinator Des Kitchings called Thomas “an anchor” on Virginia’s offensive line. The right guard made his return this year alongside fellow offensive line transfer Monroe Mills, who also missed all of last season after suffering a torn ACL in the preseason.

With Thomas and Mills now shoring up the right side of the trenches, blended with returning experience from the rest of the line, Kitchings believes that provides a good foundation for the Cavalier offense.

“Having him and Monroe on the right side to now balance us up with Noah (Josey) and (McKale) Boley and then Drake (Metcalf),” he said, “you feel like you’ve got a really solid five.”

Thomas is also known for making an impression in the weight room with his strength training.

“I mean, his physique, right, says enough,” Kitchings said.

Thomas was named on The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman’s 2026 college football ‘Freaks List’ that identifies exceptional athletes with eye-popping training results from college football programs across the country.

Equipped now with a state-of-the-art facility at the recently opened Hardie Football Operations Center, Thomas has worked with strength and conditioning coach Adam Smotherman to take full advantage of the resources at his disposal.

“The time that they put into us and the focus and the attention and detail that they put into our body, what we put into our body, how we live and just everything about him is exceptional,” he said. “I’m 330 right now and I feel like I’m 315 just doing what I do.”

Seeing his first game since 2024, Thomas is still adjusting in getting back up to game speed. Even after a resounding 34-8 win over the NC State Wolfpack in the team’s opener, he said he saw plenty of areas where he could improve.

Luckily, his offensive line teammates were all on the same page as well.

“We worked our tails off during that bye week and it shows,” Thomas said. “A lot of guys like to relax but I know a lot of guys in the o-line room did the same thing. We sat down and watched film together just to see and get a head start.”

The road back to starting on the offensive line for Makilan Thomas, he admitted, was not easy.

“It was a long process, I can’t lie to you about that, it was a long process, especially with that being my first major injury,” Thomas said.

Now that he’s back anchoring the unit, though, Thomas is embracing the chance to get back on the field.

“I’m just happy to be back to it, honestly,” he said. “I am so happy.”