'13 FL OLB Matthew Thomas (Offer)

[NDPhilly]

Miami FL
Booker T Washington

Ht: 6'3"
Wt: 205 lb
40: 4.65

Rankings:
Rivals:
Scout:
247:
ESPN:

Offers:
Alabama
Miami FL
Notre Dame
UCF
Auburn
Florida
FSU
Houston
Kentucky
Louisville
Ole Miss
USF
Oklahoma
Texas A&M
USC
UCLA
West Virginia
Utah

 

[NDPhilly]

According to ISD we just offered. Bama leads.

IMO #2 OLB in the class behind you know who.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Any room for the Irish to maneuver within his recruitment? His offer sheet is crazy, but I never doubt Alford's ability to get the Irish into the mix.

 

[NDPhilly]

No article yet.

We offered relatively late which never helps. Honestly if we get a visit I'll consider it a small miracle.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

According to ISD we just offered. Bama leads.

IMO #2 OLB in the class behind you know who.

Voldemort is out of eligibility.

 

[beryirish]

According to ISD we just offered. Bama leads.

IMO #2 OLB in the class behind you know who.

Voldemort is out of eligibility.

Ha..his name is not to be spoken of around here.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Voldemort is out of eligibility.

 

[GBdomer]

Hes going to Miami or Bama.

 

[bert2834]

Guaranteed ND lock!

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Too far away. Not even considering us.


At least he is honest.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Is that the most recent update from Sapp? I assume he's the 5 lb Sapp was referring to on tweeter?

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Is that the most recent update from Sapp? I assume he's the 5 lb Sapp was referring to on tweeter?

Yes sir.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

So there's this: Thomas wants out of FSU LOI

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

He tried to sign with USC but his momma wouldn't let him because that was too far away. This should be fun.

Also, it is fairly obvious that his father doesn't understand the transfer rules either. He thinks he would only have to sit out if he transferred in conference but that is obviously not the case. You can't get a release and play in the same year unless you get a waiver and he has absolutely no case for one.

 

[Luckylucci]

This will an interesting train wreck to follow. Physically he has incredible upside, I definitely don't want to see him end up at USC.

 

[greyhammer90]

Sounds like his family is clueless about the process...

He's going to be upset when he finds out just how much FSU owns him now.

 

[Cali_domer]

This will an interesting train wreck to follow. Physically he has incredible upside, I definitely don't want to see him end up at USC.

Is it USCe or USCw?

 

[Emcee77]

Is it USCe or USCw?

Southern Cal

Also, it is fairly obvious that his father doesn't understand the transfer rules either. He thinks he would only have to sit out if he transferred in conference but that is obviously not the case. You can't get a release and play in the same year unless you get a waiver and he has absolutely no case for one.

It never ceases to amaze me how often this rule is misunderstood.


These stories always make me really sad. Deciding where to go to college is tough, and even the most mature kids generally need good advice and support from their parents. In recruiting you sometimes see these situations where the parents are not only ill-equipped to help but are making it harder.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

There are a couple of other things that I'm interested to watch for. One is if FSU alleges that UGA and/or USC continued to recruit him. The other is James Coley, who was FSU's OC and lead recruiter (though I don't think was his recruiter), is now down at Miami. That was a contentious departure and it happened right before signing day. I'm curious to see how the program reacts but right now all the writers and fans down that way are not happy and are throwing out wild stories about what has happened. Also, Thomas was at the spring game less than a month ago and didn't mention anything.

 

[IrishLax]

Sounds like his family is clueless about the process...

He's going to be upset when he finds out just how much FSU owns him now.

Nailed it.

And anyone thinK there might be ongoing tampering from Kiffin after NSD?

 

[connect the dots]

Please release me, Jimbo, can't you see
You'd be a fool to cling to me.
I haven't slept since I don't know when
So release me, Jimbo, and let me play again
My integrity has just walked out the door
Can't you see I don't want you anymore.

 

[GBdomer]

Been rumblings about this for months, dont understand why parents just can't let there kids go wherever they want. Some kids just want to get out of where there from.

 

[KPENN]

Theoretically FSU can stop him from going to USC, right?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Theoretically FSU can stop him from going to USC, right?

Yes. They could theoretically stop him from playing anywhere if they were willing to endure the negative PR such a move would generate. But why would they bother? I don't think USC or UGA are on any of FSU's future schedules.

 

[IrishLax]

Theoretically FSU can stop him from going to USC, right?

FSU can stop him from going anywhere in the short term. He won't be able to play next season anywhere unless FSU lets him out of the LOI (which they almost certainly won't because it sets a dangerous precedent)... and he'd have to pay his way at another school for a year if we wanted to transfer without FSU's release.

So basically... he's either playing for FSU or he's going to JUCO/sitting out a year.

Again... I'm reallllllly interested to see if he has any disallowed phone calls/texts/messages from USC or Georgia. If USC has been illegally recruiting him after NSD then you're looking at a violation on probation = hammer of doom.

 

[IrishLax]

Yes. They could theoretically stop him from playing anywhere if they were willing to endure the negative PR such a move would generate. But why would they bother? I don't think USC or UGA are on any of FSU's future schedules.

You don't let kids out of LOIs. Period. If he wants to transfer, I bet they let him do that. But no way they just void the LOI and let him sign somewhere else and play immediately.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

You don't let kids out of LOIs. Period. If he wants to transfer, I bet they let him do that. But no way they just void the LOI and let him sign somewhere else and play immediately.

That's not what I meant. Kelly allowed Kiel, Neal, Ferguson, etc. to transfer provided the destination school wasn't on one of our future schedules. So certain schools were effectively blocked.

FSU could do the same, though I don't see why they'd bother blocking USC or UGA.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

FSU can stop him from going anywhere in the short term. He won't be able to play next season anywhere unless FSU lets him out of the LOI (which they almost certainly won't because it sets a dangerous precedent)... and he'd have to pay his way at another school for a year if we wanted to transfer without FSU's release.

So basically... he's either playing for FSU or he's going to JUCO/sitting out a year.

Again... I'm reallllllly interested to see if he has any disallowed phone calls/texts/messages from USC or Georgia. If USC has been illegally recruiting him after NSD then you're looking at a violation on probation = hammer of doom.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Should go to ND just to stick it to the Noles (play them in 2014).

 

[Emcee77]

FSU can stop him from going anywhere in the short term. He won't be able to play next season anywhere unless FSU lets him out of the LOI (which they almost certainly won't because it sets a dangerous precedent)... and he'd have to pay his way at another school for a year if we wanted to transfer without FSU's release.

So basically... he's either playing for FSU or he's going to JUCO/sitting out a year.

Again... I'm reallllllly interested to see if he has any disallowed phone calls/texts/messages from USC or Georgia. If USC has been illegally recruiting him after NSD then you're looking at a violation on probation = hammer of doom.

He wouldn't necessarily, but probably as a de facto requirement. The basic penalty for breaking a LOI is the loss of one season of competition in all sports and a year in residence at the next NLI institution. It does not include a prohibition against receiving athletics financial aid or practicing with a team.

NLI Frequently Asked Questions*

Note that this is different from the one-year-in-residence NCAA penalty under section 14.5 of the manual for transferring to another school once you've already completed one year at the institution with which you signed ... that penalty, unlike the NLI Basic Penalty, the institution has no power to release you from. FSU does have the power to grant Thomas a complete release from his NLI before he actually enrolls or finishes a year at FSU, or Thomas can serve the two-year Basic Penalty ... it seems to me a school would have to really want him bad to put him on scholarship while he is ineligible for two years. Community college seems like the most likely route if FSU won't grant the complete release.