Blair Thomas joined Penn State for the 1986 season, where he played as the backup running back for the national championship team. Blair logged 60 carries for 504 yards, toting the rock at a staggering 8.4 yards per carry and logging five touchdowns.
As a sophomore, Thomas took over the starting role at RB, gaining 1,414 yards on 268 carries, with 11 touchdowns to boot. An injury sidelined him for his junior year, but in 1989 he returned to his old ways, rushing 264 times for 1,341 yards, and an additional five touchdowns. That season, he ran for 186 yards on 35 carries in the Holiday Bowl against BYU, earning MVP honors in the bowl game.