Matthew Thomas, one of Florida State’s top recruits from the class of 2013, does not want to play for the Seminoles. The country’s No. 2 linebacker according to Rivals.com said on Monday that he is seeking his release from Florida State so he can sign with either Georgia or USC. In fact, he says he never really wanted to go to FSU to begin with.
“I’ve told (the coaches) it’s nothing personal,” Thomas said, via The Miami Herald. “I just didn’t make the decision I really wanted to on Signing Day. What happened was I wasn’t sure who I wanted to sign with. I had issues with different schools. But when I told my mom I didn’t want to sign with anybody and wait and give it a few days she said I couldn’t do that. She said, ‘FSU is a good school – pick them. It’s close to home.’ I wasn’t agreeing with it. But I felt like I was being disrespectful to her if I didn’t sign. So I made her happy.”
Thomas also added that he felt pressure to sign with FSU since he had already verbally committed to the school and his official decision was being aired live on ESPN. He says both of his parents are now supporting his efforts to be released from FSU, but the coaches are planning to visit him at his home in South Florida to try to convince him to stay.
“If I tried to go to a school in FSU’s conference I would have to sit out a couple years,” he explained. “But that’s not what I want to do. I’ve been in Miami all my life. Georgia needs linebackers. It’s a big program. I have family in Georgia. USC, growing up I never thought I would have an opportunity that big. I just want to go have fun and play football.”
Recruits make decisions they regret because of their parents all the time. Very few take it as far as this player’s mother did, but we hear stories like this quite often. Thomas is just a kid who hasn’t even begun his college career yet. If he thinks going to a different school would be best for his future, it should not be too late for him to do so.
Helmet smack to Dr. Saturday
