Jermaine Thomas, RB

12/21/2011 - Florida State senior running back Jermaine Thomas has been declared academically ineligible for the Champs Sports Bowl and will not play in his final college game. Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said Wednesday Thomas did not pass one of his classes during the fall semester. Fisher says Thomas was the only player on the roster who is academically ineligible for the Dec. 29 game against Notre Dame. Thomas was Florida State's second-leading rusher in 2011, gaining 279 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Without Thomas, Florida State will likely lean more on freshman Devonta Freeman, who has 531 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Either freshman James Wilder Jr. (150 rushing yards) or senior Ty Jones (71 rushing yards) should see increased playing time. - AP Sports

Full Jermaine Thomas News Wire

Breakout freshman performer in 2008, Thomas is slated to share starting duties with fellow true sophomore Ty Jones...had a huge spring where he continued to show big play potential...averaged over 12 yards a carry in spring scrimmages and turned in numerous runs of 50+ yards in drills...averaged over six yards per carry in the annual Garnet & Gold Game...named the most dependable running back following spring practice...will have to help burden the responsibility of replacing Antone Smith who carried the ball more than 350 times in 2007 and 2008...Smith accounted for 55% of Florida State's non-QB rushes in 2008 and also 15 of the team's 27 rushing touchdowns...Thomas and Jones combined to average more than 10 yards a rush in spring scrimmages and they continually found seams and turned those small gaps into long runs...Thomas and Jones should form one of the most dynamic, young backfields in the ACC in 2008.