REPORT: Matthew Thomas Remains With Florida State

Feb 6, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Booker T. Washington offense linebacker Matthew Thomas said he will attend Florida State on National Signing Day at Booker T. Washington Senior High. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

On the same day that an ESPN.com report said five-star linebacker recruit Matthew Thomas wanted to back out on his national letter of intent to transfer to USC, Warchant.com reports Thomas is sticking with Florida State.

Thomas’ father, Billy, told Joe Schad his son wanted his release to join the USC Trojans. However, Thomas’ statement to Warchant.com says he will report to FSU on Saturday.

With three full days until that deadline, plenty can unfold. The Thomas saga is one of the more peculiar in recent memory, with significant long-term repercussions. His back-and-forth with Florida State, which denied Thomas’ request for release from his NLI, became a precursor to a similar drama.

UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora formally acknowledged the transfer of Notre Dame signee Eddie Vanderdoes via Twitter, though UND took a similar stance with Vanderdoes as Florida State with Thomas.

To transfer, Vanderdoes must go through traditional transfer channels; meaning, he must sit out a year. But part of transferring before reporting, as is the case for both Vanderdoes and Thomas, costs a player a year of eligibility. Vanderdoes is filing an NCAA hardship appeal, but if he is denied will have just three seasons of eligibility.

This is especially vexing. Assuming Vanderdoes qualified for Notre Dame — there were rampant rumors of academic hurdles leading up to Mora’s tweet — he could spend a few months in South Bend and transfer without losing a year. Former Fighting Irish defensive end Aaron Lynch spent a season wearing the golden dome before transferring to USF, where he begins the first of his three seasons of eligibility.

Sports Illustrated‘s Andy Staples shed some light on the NLI last week. The contractual obligation of the player to report after signing makes sense, as a recruit’s abrupt departure leaves the coach in an unfairly precarious position. However, the lost year of the transfer rule is confounding.

How much impact that has on the Vanderdoes decision will be revealed in the coming weeks. Similarly, how much impact that had on Thomas’ apparent decision to remain with the Seminoles could come to light as he reports.