Jermaine Thomas Class: Sophomore Hometown: Jacksonville, FL High School: First Coast Height / Weight: 6-1 / 190 Position: RB

2009 Outlook: 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.

2008: Dynamic true freshman tailback played in 12 games and averaged seven yards per carry...Thomas put together one of the most successful seasons by a true freshman running back in school history...average per carry was just shy of the top marks set by true freshmen Warrick Dunn in 1993 (7.5) and Sean Jackson in 1990 (7.9)...his 482 rushing yards are the sixth-most ever by a true freshman at FSU...rushed for an average of 40.2 yards per game, second-best on the team...one of only three players (Antone Smith and D'Vontrey Richardson) with multiple rushes of 30 yards or more...Thomas posted 69 carries and was dropped for a loss just seven times for only 10 yards in losses...burst onto the scene with 91 yards rushing in the season-opener versus Western Carolina. It tied the best rushing debut by a freshman in school history...registered the longest run by any Seminole when he broke off a 62-yard run versus Georgia Tech...it was the longest play of the season from the line of scrimmage.

RANKINGS: ESPN 150 -- 47th, ESPN 150 -- 3rd (ATH), Rivals -- 15th (RB), Rivals - 49th (Florida), Scout -- 46th (RB), SuperPrep - 31st (Florida)Three-star back according to both Rivals and Scout.com...Scouts, Inc. says Thomas is an outstanding prospect who has the "ability to create mismatches against most opponents" and considers him a player that could be a contributor as a true freshman...ESPN says Thomas has a "supreme blend of size and speed"...PrepStar All-Region team...AJC Super Southern 100...FSWAA All-State 4A Second Team Offense...rushed for 900 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior...played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl...chose FSU over LSU, Illinois, Georgia Tech, NC State, South Carolina and Purdue.

Career-Highs:
Receiving
Receptions 3, at Maryland, 2008
Yards 31, Boston College, 2008
Longest Catch 19, Boston College, 2008

Rushing
Carries 13, Western Carolina, 2008
Yards 130, at Georgia Tech, 2008
Longest Run 62, at Georgia Tech, 2008
TDs 2, Western Carolina, 2008
Longest TD 12, Western Carolina, 2008