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Former Appalachian State football standout and NFL veteran safety Josh Thomas has been
hired by Student Athlete NIL (SANIL) and endorsed by the Today I Give My All (TIGMA)
Collective Board Leadership as its first General Manager, the Collective supporting the NIL
Program for Appalachian State University student-athletes.
Thomas will oversee day-to-day business operations, including business development, fan and
alumni engagement, community education initiatives, and student-athlete support.
Thomas’ vast experience and knowledge as a former App State student-athlete will be valuable
as he leads ongoing TIGMA Collective growth, and his tremendous Mountaineer playing career
establishes him as a recognizable spokesperson to alumni and fans.
Twice voted an App State captain during his career, Thomas played in 56 total games with 30
starts in contributing to a collective 54-12 record, four Sun Belt Conference championships, and
five bowl titles. Thomas also twice earned All-Sun Belt Conference recognition from the league.
Following his Mountaineer career, Thomas signed with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills as an undrafted
free agent and spent two seasons in Orchard Park, joining the Arizona Cardinals for the 2022
season, and completing his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers.
Most recently, Thomas competed for the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders
before a knee injury led to his professional football retirement.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to grow TIGMA and for the chance to work with the student-
athletes to make an impact in the community. Boone is a special place and I’m excited to get to
work there again,” said Thomas, who will start as General Manager on June 24.
Chris Brown, Chief Executive Officer of SANIL said “Adding a two-time App State football
captain to lead TIGMA’s growth is the fuel needed to support Appalachian State University’s
winning traditions. Josh embodies the true values of App State and will be a catalyst in
connecting the fans, community, and corporate supporters in the continued growth of App State Athletics.”
About TIGMA Collective
TIGMA was founded by a passionate group of App State alumni and is operated by Student
Athlete NIL (SANIL). TIGMA supports the entire NIL ecosystem of Appalachian State Athletics
by providing engagement opportunities for fans and businesses that fuel its student-athlete
engagement and retention efforts.
About SANIL
Student Athlete NIL (SANIL) is the leading marketing, media, and technology agency of record,
supporting the needs of student-athletes, brands and the ever-evolving era of Name, Image,
and Likeness. SANIL operates the collectives of more than 45 universities while marketing and
monetizing the rights of thousands of student-athletes through fan experiences, brand
partnerships and premium media content.