On National Signing Day, Matthew Thomas was all smiles, choosing the Florida State Seminoles over Miami, Georgia, and USC. The selection was a mild surprise, and it allowed Jimbo Fisher and his program to save face after having a disastrous few weeks in the lead-up to Signing Day.
Unfortunately for Fisher and Seminole fans, the nice recruiting moment will likely never translate onto the field as the highly touted linebacker is seeking a release from his scholarship.
Thomas has blamed his mother for pushing him to Florida State in order to keep him close to home, and he no longer wants to honor that decision and the legally binding signature that went along with it.
“I’ve told them it’s nothing personal. I just didn’t make the decision I really wanted to on Signing Day,” Thomas told the Miami Herald as he has made it clear to the Seminole coaching staff that he wishes to be released.
The announcement from Thomas comes after a recruiting season that featured an extraordinary number of commitments and de-commitments, attention getting stunts, and, as in Thomas’ case, mothers willing to go to great lengths to keep their sons close to home.
Moving forward, this is a significant blow to the Seminoles who, outside of Thomas and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, closed poorly in 2013. Thomas, if given his release, will likely select the University of Georgia where he has family and sees an ability to play early.