Gators continue push with 5-star FSU commit Solomon Thomas

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA –What was the highlight from the official visit this weekend to Florida by 5-star FSU offensive line commit Solomon Thomas?

“Just seeing life after football,” Thomas said. “The plan, the expectation, the people. I feel like it’s nothing like it — playing with people that you’ve known for a great amount of time. The culture is us, so I mean, I can go anywhere and say, ‘Yeah, this culture is great’, you know, but I’m kind of coming to realize that the culture is something I’ve always known, something that I’ve always believed in. So I mean, everything is good in Gainesville for sure.”

Thomas, the No. 14 prospect in the country for the On3 Industry Rankings, is one of the Gators’ biggest targets. He committed to FSU last December but has continued to communicate with and visit Florida. LSU is another factor.

Solomon Thomas says it’s close at the top

“Florida State, I’m already committed, but Florida and LSU are neck and neck,” Thomas said Sunday. “No doubt. I mean, they’re neck and neck.”

Thomas has been to Gainesville many times, but this weekend’s trip was unique.

“It’s more of a press to get me on board, of course, because after the summer you want to know who you got coming in, especially with me being an early enrollee,” Thomas said. “I’ll be enrolled into school in about six months. So just getting a game plan. They definitely run a .. when say pro style, it’s pro style. So when you transition into the NFL, God willing, that there’s no surprises. But I mean, it’s the people. It’s not one person. That’s my biggest takeaway — that it’s not just one person. It’s the people, it’s a collective, it’s everybody. It’s not just maybe this group here or I just like football. I like academics, you know, and that’s something you really hear from student athletes, is the academics and my relationship with Ms. Katie (Turner). She does the offensive line stuff, and then on top of that, having guys who are from where you are. And just having that bond and relationship.”

Florida offensive lineman Roderick Kearney, another Jacksonville native, was Thomas’ host. This visit came one weekend after Thomas made an official to LSU, which also is heavily involved. Who made a better impression on Thomas — the Gators or Tigers?

“I’ll say it’s neck and neck,” he said. “This is home because it is home. I’m in Florida still, so I mean, it’s the palm trees, you know, it’s the views that I’ve always grown up seeing. I mean, but it’s the people. The people is what keep me around for sure.”

He seems to like the UF staff

Thomas appears to have connected well with Florida’s two offensive line coaches — Rob Sale and Jonathan Decoster. And they aren’t the only ones.

“Coach Decoster is an NFL guy. He told me from the beginning, it’s business,” Thomas said. “Coach Sale is business. Coach (Billy) Napier is business. And you want to get the guys that you feel like are going to produce, not only on the field but that has your best interest in the offensive line room. And I feel like I definitely bring that to the table, kind of that good energy. I’m not a jealous guy. If I see a guy working harder than me, it’s like, OK, I gotta step up. It’s not, I’m trying to bring you down. But that’s the kind of bond that I feel like I’ve built with not only the offensive side of the ball, but the defensive side of the ball. I know a handful of guys here, and I feel like as time goes on, I’m gonna end up knowing more.”

For Thomas, the finish line is nearing. He hopes to shut down his recruitment in the next few months.

“By the end of the summer for sure,” he said. “Before the end of summer, really. Like it’s a headache dog. I mean, I hate this to be real. I loved it when I was younger but now it’s just like, I’m kind of tired. I’m ready to get down to business and start making money. That’s the thing.”

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