Tavion Thomas has called it a career at Utah.

The fifth-year running back announced on social media Friday that he is declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft. Thomas also revealed that he suffered a toe injury during the Utes’ 20-17 loss to Oregon last Saturday and will sit out the remainder of the season as he readies for the NFL.

Utah faces Colorado on Saturday to close out the regular season. There remains a path for Utah to get back to the conference championship game, though several things need to break right for that to happen. Thomas will miss whatever bowl game Utah goes to as well.

“I want to say thank you to every single person that embraced me here and gave me this opportunity that changed my life,” Thomas wrote. “I will never forget the moments and memories I have here and I will forever be a Ute.”

Thomas landed in Salt Lake City last season after spending a year at Independence CC. He spent the first two years of his college career at Cincinnati, and when he returned to the FBS level he ran wild.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Thomas was the engine behind Utah’s 2021 Pac-12 title run. He broke the Utah single-season rushing touchdown record with 21 scores in 13 games last year and earned a spot on the All-Pac-12 First Team.

This year has been more challenging. Thomas dealt with personal tragedy early in the season and has been in and out of the lineup throughout. Still, he’s the Utes’ leading rusher with 687 yards and seven touchdowns.

Kickoff against the Buffs is set for 1 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Network on Saturday.