Elite four-star edge prospect Antonio Thomas Jr. is set to hit Tallahassee on October 31st for a huge Halloween showdown between Florida State and the Clemson Tigers. This isn’t just another visit for the Noles, especially with Zach Blostein of 247Sports reporting that FSU has some serious work to do in his recruitment. This kid is the real deal, and Florida State needs to make a massive impression.
This Kid Is Different
Antonio Thomas Jr. isn’t your average edge rusher, not by a long shot. We’re talking about a 6-foot-3, 240-pound force who is ranked the No. 14 player nationally and the No. 3 edge prospect in 247Sports composite rankings. He’s also the No. 4 recruit in the entire state of Florida. But here’s where it gets wild: as a sophomore, this dude wasn’t just terrorizing QBs. On defense, he racked up 54 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. That’s elite production. Then you flip to offense, and Thomas registered an insane 927 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging a ridiculous 9.3 yards per carry. An edge rusher who can run for nearly a thousand yards? That’s just wild.
The Race Is On
Thomas isn’t playing around with his visits either. Besides the October 31st trip to Florida State, he’s got five other game visits locked in for the season. He’s heading to see the Kentucky Wildcats on September 12th, then the Florida Gators on September 26th. October is packed with visits to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on the 10th and the Miami Hurricanes on the 17th. Then it’s off to the Georgia Bulldogs on November 14th. The competition is fierce, too. Right now, Georgia, Florida, and Kentucky are the schools doing the best job recruiting him. And don’t sleep on the Texas Longhorns, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Ohio State Buckeyes, or Oregon Ducks either, as they’ve all made strides in his recruitment.
This October 31st game against Clemson isn’t just a big ACC matchup for Florida State, it’s their shot to climb the ladder for one of the most exciting two-way talents in the country. FSU has some serious ground to cover to get into the mix for Thomas. This Halloween showdown better be special if they want to make an impression that sticks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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