Florida State Coach Persuades Five-Star Recruit to Switch His Commitment to LSU After Being Fired
Solomon Thomas, initially committed to play college football at Florida State, decided to flip his commitment to LSU on Early Signing Day, largely influenced by former Seminoles coach Alex Atkins. This change came after Mike Norvell, the head coach at Florida State, made the decision to shake up his staff, which ultimately helped LSU secure one of the nation’s top offensive linemen.
Thomas, a standout from Florida, is regarded as the second-best interior lineman in the nation. As a five-star prospect in the Class of 2025, he had offers from numerous prestigious programs, including Alabama, Ohio State, Auburn, South Carolina, Rutgers, Clemson, Miami, Oregon, and Penn State, making him a highly coveted recruit. Despite the intense competition, Florida State appeared to have a strong hold on him when he committed in December 2023. Thomas had made several visits to Tallahassee, including six trips in 2024, and had shown a clear dedication to the Seminoles, even though he had visited Gainesville and Baton Rouge earlier in the spring.
However, everything shifted when Florida State fired Alex Atkins, the offensive line coach, on November 10. The news affected not only the team but also Thomas, who had developed a strong bond with Atkins. Maurice Smith, a current player, expressed that the firing was a painful moment for everyone involved, highlighting Atkins’ personal and professional significance. Thomas, too, felt the impact of the decision.
Soon after Atkins’ departure, Thomas began to reconsider his commitment. On November 11, he posted a message hinting at his changing perspective. Shortly thereafter, he reached out to Atkins for an honest conversation about the recruiting process and asked for his thoughts on LSU’s offensive line coach, Brad Davis. Atkins spoke highly of Davis, praising his character both on and off the field, which helped ease Thomas’ concerns. It was this conversation that ultimately led Thomas to decommit from Florida State and officially flip to LSU.