In a late nationwide signing day flip, five-star offensive lineman Soloman Thomas de-committed from the Florida State Seminoles and signed with the LSU Tigers, marking one of many larger swings within the 2025 recruiting class.
Thomas, ranked because the No. 13 participant within the 2025 class by ESPN, is a 6’3, 315-pound offensive lineman who tasks to the inside on the subsequent stage.
Incomes 34 provides from varied excessive majors throughout the nation, Thomas had been a longtime commit of Florida State’s, verbally pledging to the Seminoles in December of 2023.
However, that didn’t cease groups from checking in and bringing the five-star to campus, as Thomas had official visits this summer season to Florida, LSU and Florida State, whereas consistently making visits to the latter, which made it appear as if his recruitment would stay intact for the longest time frame.
Nevertheless, the Seminoles had a disastrous season beneath Mike Norvell, going 1-11, which led to them firing each offensive coordinator Alex Atkins and defensive coordinator Adam Fuller in the course of the season.
Atkins was Thomas’ lead recruiter and that opened up an opportunity for LSU to sneak again in and pull off the main flip, which it in the end did on Early Nationwide Signing Day, offering a significant enhance for the Tigers’ 2025 recruiting class.
As Nationwide Signing Day inched nearer, there was no clearance on who Florida State’s new offensive line coach can be, elevating uncertainties for the five-star as he started to take a look at his choices.
Thomas was in Baton Rouge for LSU’s sport towards Vanderbilt in Week 13, the place he bought a greater understanding of his alternative with the Tigers and stored an open thoughts going into the early signing interval, in the end making the flip.
What does this transfer imply for LSU?
Effectively, it caps off a powerful 2025 recruiting class alongside the offensive line that additionally contains four-star Carius Curne, four-star Tyler Miller, and three-star Brett Bordelon, with Thomas being the headliner.
2025 5-Star OT Solomon Thomas speaking with Offensive Line Coach Brad Davis whereas on his go to to Baton Rouge.
Thomas has been dedicated to Florida State since December 2023, however took OVs to LSU and Florida over the summer season.
Immediately, he’s again in Baton Rouge. pic.twitter.com/LfZZgu7WtY
— Tyler Harden (@ttjharden8) November 23, 2024
However, furthermore, it provides them a significant resolution to their depth points alongside the offensive line, whereas Thomas has the possibility to play early for the Tigers at no matter place he sticks at.
Thomas has been versatile throughout his highschool profession, enjoying each guard and deal with, which provides to the flexibleness of the place LSU can line him up in the event that they deem him able to play as a freshman.
The Tigers will most likely be coping with quite a lot of underclassmen and inexperienced gamers alongside their offensive line subsequent 12 months, particularly if deal with Emery Jones leaves, giving Thomas probability to compete for a possibility early.
Furthermore, it’s a significant assertion for head coach Brian Kelly’s program, as they had been in a position to pull Thomas out of the state of Florida, the place each the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles had been concerned on this recruitment.
Thomas bumps LSU’s 2025 recruiting class as much as a top-10 group within the nation, whereas the Seminoles noticed their class drop from No. 22 to No. 29 on Rivals.
One of many prime offensive linemen within the Class of 2025, Thomas may very well be a reputation to observe as an early contributor subsequent 12 months and is an enormous win for Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers.