Amari Thomas Has Three Games to Raise His FSU Value

Heading into the Boston College game, the question was whether freshman Amari Thomas would be ready to step in and contribute, with Tre Wisner dealing with an injury.

“We lost Trey, and he's working to try and come back, but that room's taken a hit this year; we've lost some really good players due to injuries,” interim head coach Rick Stockstill said. “It's forced Amari to speed up, and he knows Saturday will be the most he'd really played since he'd been here.”

Wisner was able to go, but it didn’t stop Thomas from getting his chance and seizing it, leading Florida States rushing attack in the 31-24 win over Boston College.

The freshman went off for 98 yards on 19 carries, with two touchdowns and an average of 5.2 yards per carry. He also caught one pass for nine yards in the game.

Thomas had been waiting for an opportunity like this. Through the first eight games, the freshman had received just four carries, gaining 12 yards without a touchdown. His longest run was only five yards.

Thomas didn't waste much time making his presence felt. Trailing 17-7 in the second quarter, the freshman took a handoff on first-and-10 from Boston College's 20-yard line.

He ran outside, made the first defender miss and raced into the end zone for his first career rushing touchdown, helping the Seminoles get back into the game.

With the game tied at 24 in the fourth quarter, Thomas once again showed his vision and big-play ability. On second-and-9 from the Boston College 11-yard line, the freshman saw nothing open up the middle, bounced the run outside and went untouched into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.

The score gave the Seminoles the lead, and they never looked back, securing their first road win since November 2023.

The Seminoles' running back room has been hit hard by injuries this season. Samuel Singleton Jr. suffered a knee injury in the third quarter against Alabama, while Ousmane Kromah went down late in the second quarter against Miami.

Wisner was also banged up in the loss to Clemson, leaving Thomas with an opportunity to step into a larger role.

One person's loss is another person's gain. Injuries to three players opened the door for Thomas, and the freshman ran through it the second it opened.

That opportunity could turn into a big gain for the young running back.

If Thomas continues to showcase his abilities over the final three games, his performance could translate into a nice payday in the NIL and transfer portal era of college football.

It wouldn't be surprising if third-party representatives have already made contact to gauge what the freshman could command heading into the offseason.

Each strong performance win continues to increase his value.

“Former Blountstown (Fla.) RB Amari Thomas has some juice. Should be a priority for FSU's next head coach to retain,” Zach Blostein said in a post on X.

Thomas is a product from Marianna, Florida. According to Rivals, the four-star running back was ranked No. 177 nationally, No. 11 among running backs and No. 18 in the state of Florida.

In his senior season, Thomas rushed for 1,799 yards on 117 carries and 21 touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns.

His performance helped lead Blountstown to a 12-1 record and a trip to the state championship game.

With three games remaining, Thomas has a chance to take his breakout performance and turn it into something much bigger.

Thomas' performance against Boston College may have other programs taking notice. If he can continue producing at that level, his value heading into the offseason will continue to rise with each performance.