Thomas kicked off team After rumors swirl receiver quit team, returned home, UM announces dismissal
Hurricanes receiver Jeff Thomas was not at practice Wednesday as the Hurricanes continued preparing for Pittsburgh.
CORAL GABLES — Hurricanes receiver Jeff Thomas is no longer a part of the Hurricanes football program, the school announced Wednesday afternoon.
Miami’s announcement came hours after the receiver missed his second straight practice while rumors swirled about his status with the team.
“We have high standards for excellence, for conduct and for the commitment to team for all of the young men who wear our uniform and we will not waver from those standards,” Miami coach Mark Richt said in a statement. “We wish Jeff the very best as he moves forward in his journey.” For his part, Thomas took to social media late Wednesday night to say he was not dismissed from the team.
“Regarding to the situation with me. I did not get kicked off the team as of how bad it sounds. I came to a agreement with my head coach on leaving the program to better my future life and family life. I couldn’t thank this program of how much they’ve done for me, and the things I’ve done on the field is my way of respect for the program. Much love!! #BeatPitt.”
Thomas, a sophomore, was not seen on the field during the media viewing portion
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of Wednesday’s practice early in the day. A UM spokesman said at the time the sophomore was still a member of the football team, was still in Miami as of Wednesday morning and that Thomas was not at practice due to personal reasons.
Hours later, all of that changed in the wake of some reported friction between Thomas and the Hurricanes’ coaching staff.
Thomas, who led the Hurricanes with 35 catches for 563 yards and 1,063 all-purpose yards, did not start last Saturday’s game at Virginia Tech, with WQAM-560 reporting during its in-game broadcast that the receiver was dealing with a “tough love” lesson from Richt.
Thomas did enter Miami’s eventual 38-14 win and delivered one of the game’s most
dynamic plays, a 51-yard punt return that went for a touchdown. He finished the day with a game-high 110 all-purpose yards.
Those would be his final plays as a Hurricane, it turned out.
On Wednesday, Hurricanes quarterback N’Kosi Perry said he’d spoken to Thomas of late, but declined to give any specifics about what the two discussed. Miami offensive coordinator Thomas Brown also declined to share information about any conversations he may have had or was planning to have with Thomas.
“We’ll handle it in-house,” Brown said. “I’m not going to make a public comment about it. I’ll say whatever I say to him off camera.”
What both Perry and Brown were willing to discuss was Thomas’ importance to the Miami offense, even as he endured an up-and-down season that included limited touches at times and an injury scare against Florida State.
In that game, Thomas was yanked down by the facemask and injured his knee. After that, his numbers dipped at times, with Thomas notching just one catch for five yards against Virginia, four catches for 31 yards against Boston College and four catches for 15 yards against Duke.
He did have six catches for a game-high 84 yards against Georgia Tech, but Thomas fumbled a punt return deep inside Miami territory that eventually led to a Yellow Jackets touchdown in Georgia Tech’s eventual 27-21 win.
“Very important,” Brown answered Wednesday when asked about Thomas’ role in the offense this season. “All of our guys are important. So, we love the guys that are here and we’re going to move forward and get ready to win this football game.”
Added Perry, “He’s a huge part of the team. He’s a great player and I can’t wait ‘til he’s here.”
When asked, though, if he expected Thomas to return any time soon, Perry replied, “You have to ask the coaches.”
Richt did not speak to reporters after Wednesday’s practice and is not scheduled to speak again publicly until after Saturday’s game against 24th-ranked Pittsburgh (7-4, 6-1 ACC).
However, Richt did speak — via statement — later in the afternoon.
If Thomas was unhappy with how his season had gone or any discipline that had been handed down by Richt or any other member of the Miami staff, his displeasure would be the latest in a series of off-field issues the Hurricanes have dealt with during a tumultuous 6-5 season in which they were projected to defend .
Three of Miami’s four quarterbacks have been suspended this year, the most recent coming Saturday when freshman Jarren Williams did not travel to Virginia Tech. Also suspended last week was linebacker Mike Pinckney, who posted a message on social media apologizing to teammates and fans after taking an unauthorized pain medication.
On the field, the Hurricanes have also dealt with the loss of former standout receiver Ahmmon Richards, who suffered a career-ending neck injury and has not played since Miami’s season-opening loss to LSU and injuries to its four scholarship tight ends.
There exists, too, the possibility that several other young playmakers aren’t happy, a reality Perry acknowledged Wednesday.
But the quarterback, who himself has gone through a suspension this year and has alternated starts with veteran Malik Rosier, said he’s tried to provide encouragement.
“For freshmen, I definitely tell them how I was last year. I didn’t play one down,” Perry said. “There are some freshmen that’s playing, may not be happy, but you’re playing as a freshman. You should be very proud.”
As news of Thomas’ dismissal spread, several Hurricanes took to social media to express their thoughts, with Richards writing on Twitter “It’s raining sledgehammers” and fellow receiver Mike Harley merely posting a picture of a broken heart emoji. Tight end Brevin Jordan, meanwhile, tweeted “JT4” with the hashtag #HumbleBeast.