One day after telling the Champaign News-Gazette he was going to enroll at Illinois, wide receiver Jeff Thomas posted on Instagram he is returning to the Miami football team.
The post was made shortly before 10 PM ET. Jeff Thomas led Miami in receptions and receiving yards in 2018. He was dismissed or left the Miami football program with one game remaining in the regular season. Former Head Coach Mark Richt said that Thomas was dismissed, Thomas claims it was a mutual decision.
Thomas’ return contradicted reports on Monday that the team took a vote and didn’t want him to return or that it was Thomas’ impression that the team didn’t want him back if, or before the vote potentially occurred.
Thomas did not post any reason behind the decision or what changed in just over 24 hours. He would have had to sit out a season at Illinois. Thomas is a RIsing Junior and will be eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft. His talents are likely to be used much better in new Offensive Coordinator Dan Enos’ offense.
The Hurricanes are projected to run some hybrid of the spread starting this fall. RIcht was tied to the archaic pro-style offense.
Thomas gives the Hurricanes a speedy, shifty and explosive receiver and dangerous return man. His return can only help Miami’s offense. Other than Rising Junior Mike Harley and Graduate Transfer K.J. Osborn from Buffalo, the Hurricanes receiving corps is inexperienced.
Thomas’ decision is bizarre after the interview he gave with the Post-Gazette that was posted yesterday. Canes Warning posted an excerpt of writer Bob Asmussen’s article.
"“I’m on my way now,…I’m really excited to get started at Illinois.”Asmussen followed up by asking Thomas if he had considered staying at Miami.“Not really…It was probably because of the post I had deleted off Twitter and Instagram.”"
New Miami Head Coach Manny Diaz foreshadowed the news earlier in the evening.
— Manny Diaz (@Coach_MannyDiaz) January 16, 2019
Diaz gave a bit more of a clue an hour after the tweet of the Hurricane.
— Manny Diaz (@Coach_MannyDiaz) January 16, 2019
Diaz then more or less confirmed Thomas’ return in his final tweet of the evening at about 10:25 PM ET.
🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 #TNM pic.twitter.com/I7FwYLweUB
— Manny Diaz (@Coach_MannyDiaz) January 16, 2019
Several reports, including by the Athletic’s Manny Navarro and the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson sent out tweets cautioning Miami fans and followers to be cautiously optimistic. Navarro stated he has changed his mind like the last two days in high school, while Jackson posted about the relationship between Thomas and Diaz.
Hearing lots of positive things about Jeff Thomas & Miami reunion but will wait until UM confirmation to report definitively because of Thomas' penchant to change mind. As we noted yesterday,Thomas was never given no by Diaz after asking to return; just wasn't given immediate yes
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 16, 2019
Other than Diaz’s cryptic messages nothing official has been released by the Athletic Department yet. Now we wait until that comes out. Since he is already on the team, nothing really has to be verified. Diaz’s last tweet of the night seems pretty clear.
The question now becomes how strictly the team rules will be applied to Thomas going forward. There is likely to be some players in the locker room that felt like he gave up on his team and teammates. Several fans have stated on social media that they felt he did. Ultimately only the coaching staff and players matter.