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CHAMPAIGN – The shoulder feels fine. And the knee is about 90 percent. Thanks for asking.

Illinois sophomore cornerback Miami Thomas knows his past aches and pains are going to be the start of most conversations.

"I've still got a way to go, but I'm feeling real good right now," Thomas said. "Ninety percent is good enough to play. I feel like my 90 percent is better than a lot of people's 100 percent."

A year ago, he was competing for a job after a standout freshman season. He already had the highlight reel started after picking off a pass in a 2007 win against Ohio State.

But his 2008 season didn't last long. Thomas suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the second game against Eastern Illinois. He was hurt on a punt return, with the ball bouncing off his back after he got hurt.

"I remember that like it was yesterday," Thomas said. "It was a freak accident. I was trying to plant and get away from the ball. I stuck my foot in the ground, a guy pushed me in the back and I tried to turn at the same time."

Thomas didn't sit on the sideline and mope. He tried to use the time off as a chance to improve.

"I missed the game so much," Thomas said. "I took so many mental reps. When I finally got out here, I was hungry. I'm probably one of the hungriest players on the team, just to show what I can do. I feel like a lot of people forgot about me, forgot about what I can do."

On Friday, Thomas looked like his old self, intercepting a pass during practice and getting his hands on another.

The drop bothered Thomas, who knows it could have been a touchdown in a game.

"I'm my biggest critic," Thomas said.

Despite the loss of NFL first-round draft pick Vontae Davis, cornerback is considered one of the team's strengths. Dere Hicks returns after being named the team's top defensive back in 2008. Tavon Wilson, Travon Bellamy and Thomas all are potential starters.

"It's hard to replace a first-round cornerback, but we have experience back there," Thomas said. "Tavon played a lot last year, he got his feet wet, just like I got my feet wet my freshman year. We have talent back there."

The corners are tested each day by a group of receivers ranked No. 2 in the nation by one preseason magazine.

"Too much," Thomas said. "Every practice, they make us better and we make them better. We challenge each other. We talk trash to each other. After practice, we go home and play video games."