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FSU Football commit Zae Thomas keeping options open despite chance to make Seminole History
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- FSU Football commit Zae Thomas keeping options open despite chance to make Seminole History
Florida State has one of the most illustrious and rich histories in all of college football.
And Gregory 'Zae' Thomas is set to add to that history as the first member of the Seminole Tribe to play football on scholarship for the Seminoles .
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But he'll have actually make it to Tallahassee to etch his name in the record books, and as Mike Norvell's 2025 class stands now, Thomas may decommit before then.
American Heritage Patriots defensive back Xavier Thomas (2) guards a Naples Golden Eagles receiver during the third quarter of a game at Staver Field in Naples on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
"I'm still committed, but I'm still looking to make the best decision for my future at the end of the day," he said. "So I am talking to a couple of other schools."
There are a few schools that have been in touch with Thomas, and he says he has a good relationship with some of the coaches that are in contact with him.
"I just started talking to the coach at Bama, and Coach Seider [assistant head coach] at Penn State - I'm talking to him," Thomas said. "And before I committed to Florida State , I had a really, really good relationship with Coach Reed [assistant head coach/cornerbacks coach] at Clemson so I still talk to him almost every day."
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Thomas, a four-star defensive back and No. 29 in the USA Today Florida Top 100, shares the news in the wake of a devasting week for FSU's incoming class and a nightmarish start to the year for the program in general. Four-star defensive lineman Myron Charles flipped to Texas last week, and the No. 1 EDGE in the state Javion Hilson decommited one day later .
He says the connection the Seminole Tribe has with the school has weight in his recruitment, but he still has to do what's best for him and his family when it's all said and done.
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"It does [affect my mindset]," he said. "But at the end of the day, I've got to make the best decision for me."
American Heritage Patriots defensive back Xavier Thomas (2) guards a Naples Golden Eagles receiver during the third quarter of a game at Staver Field in Naples on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
FSU has seen a Native Seminole suit up in the Garnett and Gold, but never on an athletic scholarship like Thomas has the opportunity to do. Justin Motlow (2015-17) was the first member the Seminole Tribe to play in a football game for Florida State, and was the first to score a touchdown as well.
"It's a great thing," he said. "I'm the first member of the Seminole Tribe to play for Florida State on scholarship. There was Justin Motlow before me, but he was a walk-on. So it's something big. I go around and a lot of the Native kids are interested, just because no one has ever done that before."
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Thomas recorded 10 total tackles through three games at American Heritage, and most recently helped the Patriots get back on track with a 23-3 win over Naples that saw the defense shine time and time again.
The Naples Golden Eagles compete against the American Heritage Patriots in a game at Staver Field in Naples on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Naples lost 23-3.
It was a statement for that side of the ball, who held a Golden Eagle offense that averaged over 400 rushing yards per game to just 105 on the night.
"I'm really proud of the defense, personally," he said. "We started off this season - I don't want to say lackadaisical, we just didn't have the energy that we've had in previous years. That's something we've been emphasizing and trying to find the root of. And I feel like tonight, we just played free and I feel like the Naples offense, the running offense, that brought it out of us."
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: FSU commit and Native Seminole Zae Thomas talking to other schools
