Miami safety receives national recognition for performance against FSU

Miami safety Jakobe Thomas is getting some national recognition for his amazing performance against Florida State. The Football Writers Association of America named Thomas the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after the Hurricanes' 28–22 victory at No. 18 Florida State. Thomas had 5 solo tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and 2 pass breakups in the matchup.

Each regular season, the association selects a weekly Nagurski honoree, and those players are added to the Nagurski Trophy watch list if they weren't already on it. Thomas — a 6-foot-2-inch, 200-pound fifth-year who transferred in after stops at Tennessee and Middle Tennessee — now joins that group formally. Florida State entered the game leading the nation in scoring and total offense before Thomas and Miami's defense held the Seminoles to 22 points and 404 yards, with nearly half of that yardage coming in a frantic fourth quarter. Miami's most recent Nagurski (FWAA National Defensive Player of the Year) winners are Dan Morgan (2000) and Warren Sapp (1994).

The ACC also named him Defensive Back of the Week and Thomas had a 91.3 PFF grade which was second among all FBS safeties for the week.

Under defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, Miami has remade the defense from last year with transfers. Thomas is a major part of why the Hurricanes have found so much success through the first six weeks of the season.

Miami is on a bye this week before hosting Louisville on Friday, Oct. 17. With the Hurricanes sitting 5–0 and No. 2 in the AP poll after ranked wins over Florida State, USF and Notre Dame, they look like a legit playoff contender. By the end of the regular season, if all goes according to plan for the Canes, Thomas could seriously win the Nagurski.