FSU linebacker Matthew Thomas declared ineligible for season

Florida State linebacker Matthew Thomas has been declared ineligible for the 2015 season, sources told Warchant.com on Tuesday.

A consensus five-star linebacker from Miami Booker T. Washington High, Thomas also missed the first six games of 2014 due to suspension. He returned on Oct. 18 against Notre Dame and had six tackles. Thomas finished with 26 tackles and started three of FSU’s final seven games.

The 6-3, 225-pound Thomas has not participated in any of the open portions of practice since FSU returned to the practice field last Thursday.

While ineligible this fall, Thomas could still return to the team in 2016.

Thomas had shoulder surgery in the spring, and FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said he was expected to miss a few games. But now Thomas’ loss hurts an already thin linebacker corps.

FSU likely will start a pair of seniors in Reggie Northrup and Terrance Smith, but both are coming off injuries that limited them in the spring. Northrup had offseason surgery on his knee, and Smith had a toe injury that kept him out.

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 10:54 PM with the headline "FSU linebacker Matthew Thomas declared ineligible for season."