The Matthew Thomas story has finally come to an end.
In a statement issued to Warchant.com Tuesday evening, the five-star linebacker who signed his National Letter of Intent with the Seminoles in February confirmed he will play for FSU this fall after publicly wavering on his commitment this spring.
“After meeting with coach Fisher and his staff and gathering all the information I have decided to honor my commitment to Florida State,” Thomas said in his statement to the site. “I also want to be close to my family and I want be part of what they are building at Florida State. I’m looking forward to winning games at Florida State and building towards my future.”
Thomas will report to Florida State on Saturday. The news comes just one day after Thomas’ father told multiple media outlets that his son wanted to attend USC -- the school he was originally planning on signing with this past February.
“No disrespect to Florida State but Matthew is willing to take the punishment if there is one,” Billy Thomas told ESPN.com Monday. “He’s hoping Jimbo will let him go.”
Thomas, considered to be the No. 2 outside linebacker and No. 15 player at any position in the country from this year’s class, told the Miami Herald in early May that he signed with the Seminoles to make his mother happy and that he hoped to receive his release from FSU. However, FSU athletic director Randy Spetman confirmed later that month that the university had no plans to release Thomas from his NLI.
That’s understandable since it’s not FSU’s fault Thomas made a decision based on what his mother wanted and not what he wanted. DC Reeves of Warchant.com adds that Thomas stuck with the ‘Noles because, apparently, he was unwilling to sit out a year to satisfy NCAA transfer rules. That would obviously clash with his father’s statements about “taking the punishment.”
Whatever the reason, here’s hoping Thomas is doing what he wants to do. Not what someone else wants for him.