Florida State linebacker Matthew Thomas announced following the Orange Bowl that he will return to school for his senior year. Thomas, who missed all of 2015 due to ineligibility, came back and made a statement in his redshirt junior season.
The former five-star recruit out of South Florida led the team with 77 tackles, including an Orange Bowl game high 15 tackles with 3.5 of those going for loss, giving him 11 TFL on the season, along with one sack and one forced fumble.
Throughout the season, he has paired up with fellow linebackers, rising senior Ro’Derrick Hoskins and rising sophomore Dontavious Jackson. Both should also return next season.
Fellow junior and potential NFL-declarer Derrick Nnadi shot down those rumors when he announced he will also return for a senior year. RB Dalvin Cook, although presumed to be entering the NFL Draft, said after the Orange Bowl that he still hasn’t made a decision.