Five-star OL Solomon Thomas talks FSU commitment after visiting other schools

JACKSONVILLE — Five-star Jacksonville Raines offensive lineman Solomon Thomas has long been considered one of the best prospects in the country, and he has been committed to Florida State since December.

And while Florida, LSU, Miami and others have tried to convince Thomas to back out of that commitment, he has continued to remain strong in that pledge.

When Warchant checked in on Thomas this week at a Raines spring practice, the nation’s No. 1 interior lineman said he was trying to focus on spring football and finishing his high school career as well as possible. He also is establishing himself as a team leader.

“I’m really taking my time and trying to walk through the guys with certain techniques and different ways to block, different ways to think,” Thomas said. “Trying to challenge their IQ. … I think I mostly just have to lead by example. I’m not really one to talk, you know, telling guys what to do or where to be. I’m going to make sure I’m where I need to be and those who are really locked in are going to lock in with me.

“I know they’re watching me. So if I do what I’m supposed to do, then we should have no problem.”

The five-star lineman also is focused on working to take his individual game to another level.

“Consistency. I feel like consistency is key,” Thomas said. “Playbook isn’t a problem, because I mean, it’s been the same playbook since I was a freshman. But being consistent. Of course, you see highlights. But after last year, I’m past highlights. I want to be a highlight every snap.”

When it comes to recruiting, Thomas is trying to enjoy the process and has taken unofficial visits to LSU, Florida and Miami. The latest of those was UM, and the Hurricanes made a good impression.

Although at this point, it sounds like the only official visits scheduled are for LSU, Florida and Florida State. And the Seminoles will get the important last one.

Thomas has said many times that a major reason he loves FSU is his relationship with offensive coordinator/line coach Alex Atkins. Not only were the Seminoles and Atkins the first ones to offer him a scholarship, but their relationship has evolved well beyond football.

And Atkins’ football knowledge is another big plus.

“He’s a great coach,” Thomas said. “He can see not only the box, but he can see the whole field. You know, that’s why he gets paid so much. But then at the same time, you know, building relationships. … Once you become one of his players, he truly adopts you as one of his own. Beyond, you know, the football aspect. Football can be sometimes perceived as a transaction, especially with NIL, you know: ‘I’m going to give you this amount of money, you just do your job.’ It’s not like that.

“With him … it’s more of a fatherly relationship than a co-worker kind of thing.”

While he has been to Florida State several times, Thomas said there are certain things he wants to see during his official visit to Tallahassee.

“I feel like it’s learning not only the players, not only the players of who they are, but who they truly
are,” he said. “I can say that I know those guys, but I feel like I don’t know — I don’t know them as well as I
could know them. You know, who they are, who their parents are, where they come from, all that. You know, little, little stuff.”

While other schools are pushing hard, the Jacksonville Raines star explained why he has such strong feelings for the Seminoles.

“I know it’s work, and I love that part of it,” Thomas said. “Then on top of that … it’s more of an underrated kind of place, when you get these transfers coming from Alabama, you get these coming from these SEC schools, and they come over here and it’s like, ‘Dang, I should have been here from the jump, because it is home. It’s a soul kind of feel.’”

Lastly, there is that connection with Florida State head coach Mike Norvell.

Thomas flashed a little smirk when explaining how much he likes the Seminoles’ leader and his limitless energy.

“He’s a motivator, for sure,” Thomas said. “I don’t know what his wife is putting in his coffee, but I mean, he comes with the energy every day. And that’s something for those hard days, those late nights, and you come in and he’s screaming in your face. … You walk into that building, you have a smile on your face by the end of the day.”

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