Florida State’s Matthew Thomas returns to practice

8/31: Thomas did not practice in pads Wednesday, but was a full participant Thursday. Jimbo Fisher says he will play, but is not sure if he will start.

Update 8/30, 6:55 pm: Two sources tell Tomahawk Nation that Thomas is “good to go” and will return to the team. It is not known if he practiced. We will see if Jimbo Fisher addresses Thomas during his coaches call-in show, happening this evening.

Update 8/30: On his ACC Teleconference block, Jimbo Fisher was asked about Thomas. Fisher confirmed that the senior linebacker did not practice on Tuesday and said, “I don’t know” when asked if he will play in Saturday’s game.

There is no media availability after practice Wednesday, but there is a chance we will hear whether Thomas has returned Wednesday, so stay tuned.

Update 8/29: Matthew Thomas did not practice yet again Tuesday. His backups are sophomores Emmett Rice and Adonis Thomas.

He showed up at the end of practice in casual wear, per our Andrew Miller.

Update 8/28: Thomas did not practice.

Original:

What has been the biggest storyline of Florida State football’s fall camp looks to have finally concluded on Monday, when Head Coach Jimbo Fisher announced at his press conference that redshirt-senior linebacker Matthew Thomas should be good to go for practice, following a prolonged absence. Per Fisher: "He should be practicing today. I don't know, we'll see, but he should be practicing today."

Thomas (6’4, 227), the top recruit of the Seminoles’ 2013 recruiting class, has missed time in the past due to both injury and suspension, and his absence during fall camp had fueled ample discussion about another issue cropping up, primarily related to eligibility. Fisher has maintained that Thomas was sick, though, along with some other rather vague reasons that he was not practicing.

Thomas’ return is certainly very important news for FSU. The Miami native led the team with 77 tackles in 2016, including a team-high 9 against Michigan in the Orange Bowl, Thomas’ best game to date.

Thomas’ backups include Emmett Rice, and Adonis Thomas, both of whom are sophomores. Rice is a true sophomore, while Adonis Thomas is a red-shirt sophomore, having transferred to Florida State from junior college.