Gamecocks lose commitment as running back flips back to ACC school
Amari Thomas has had a change of heart again.
The South Carolina football commit told will be switching and staying in-state to play for the Florida State Seminoles, according to Rivals/On3 and 247Sports. Thomas plays at Blountstown High School in Florida.
Thomas visited FSU over the weekend.
“It’s no shame to South Carolina,” Thomas told 247Sports. “It’s a good school. But this was just the decision I wanted to make. FSU has that rushing attack, Coach YAC (running back coach David Johnson) sends a lot of backs to the league, and Coach (Mike) Norvell never gave up on me or the opportunity there.”
Thomas is the second decommitment for the Gamecocks in the Class of 2026. Newberry tight end Jamel Howse decommitted last month. The Gamecocks have 14 commitments for next year’s year’s class.
USC is off to a 3-7 start and will miss a bowl game.
In August, Thomas announced USC was his choice at his high school, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Committed,” and pictures of him in a South Carolina Gamecocks uniform. Thomas picked South Carolina over FSU, Miami, Georgia Tech, Auburn and Florida. He’s a four-star recruit, according to the 247Sports Composite that factors in all networks.
Thomas committed to Florida State on Jan. 27 but continued to get offers from other schools, including South Carolina, which offered him in February.
Thomas visited USC twice, including his official visit in May. He announced he was decommitting from FSU on July 18, almost a month after his official visit with the Seminoles.
Thomas is having a big senior season for unbeaten Blountstown (10-0). He has rushed for 1,496 yards and has almost 200 yards receiving and 19 total touchdowns. Blountstown has a playoff game on Friday.
South Carolina 2026 football commitments (14)
Anthony Baxter (OL) — Committed on May 5, 2024
Keenan Britt (DE) — Committed on Aug. 5, 2024
J’zavien Currence (DB) Committed on Oct. 17, 2024
Zyon Guiles (OL) — committed on March 20, 2025
Aiden Harris (DL) — committed on June 7, 2025
Andrew Harris (LB) — committed on June 7, 2025
KJ Johnson (DB) — committed on June 9, 2025
Sequel Patterson (WR) — committed on June 26, 2025
Noah Clark (DL) — committed on July 2, 2025
Triston Lewis (DB) — committed on July 17, 2025
Landon Duckworth (QB) — committed on July 18, 2025
Kosci Barnes (DB) — committed on July 26, 2025
Darius Gray (OL) — committed on Aug. 22, 2025
Caden Ramsey (TE/S) — committed on Sept. 8, 2025
This story was originally published November 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM.
