5-Star offensive lineman Solomon Thomas surprised the college football world on signing day with a flip from Florida State to LSU. The longtime Seminole commitment spurned his home state program to headline Brian Kelly’s group in Baton Rouge.
After the fact, Thomas expressed instant regret. It sounded as if he’d rather be in Tallahassee!
“I made the final decision, when I was really at peace with it, maybe yesterday,” he said of the decision to flip from FSU to LSU. “I was waiting on a phone call today, on you know, some determining factors that could probably lead me to different schools… I’m really disappointed I couldn’t go to Florida State.”
Thomas appears to have made a business decision by flipping to LSU. He was weighing his options until the last possible moment. Reading between the lines, it seems he tried to leverage his NIL deal with the Tigers in order to squeeze the Seminoles for more cash.
Of course, there are other factors that go into this decision. FSU struggled mightily on the field this year. Solomon Thomas is one of a number of players that backed off their commitments after witnessing the 2-10 campaign. The Seminoles also don’t have an offensive line coach.
But what lends belief that there’s more to the story is the school of choice. Thomas was considered a flip candidate due to those previously mentioned issues at FSU. Miami, however, appeared to be the other program in the race. LSU lingered, but the overwhelming feeling was that the offensive lineman would stay in the Sunshine State.
Interestingly enough, the surprise flip proved his soon-to-be head coach right!
Brian Kelly blasted NIL after signing his most recent LSU class.
The Tigers bagged 5-star Solomon Thomas thanks to what appears to be a better NIL offer. They lost out, however, on a number of five-star talents after being outbid by other suitors.
Top prospect and longtime LSU commit Bryce Underwood flipped to Michigan after receiving a $12 million offer from the Wolverines. The Tigers were reportedly unable (or unwilling) to match offers for Jahkeem Stewart and Kade Phillips, too.
Brian Kelly blasted NIL after the fact, saying college football has become more about money than fit. Players are flocking to the highest bidders as opposed to the school that might benefit them most or, in Thomas’s case, might be the place they truly wanted to play.
It worked in Kelly’s favor with Solomon Thomas, who seems to have taken the bag over his Sunshine State affiliation. He’ll be an interesting prospect to follow with the transfer portal always looming.
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