Talented wide receiver Jeff Thomas is leaving Miami again and this time it’s for real
Another Miami Hurricanes underclassman has declared early for the NFL Draft, and this time it won’t surprise anyone familiar with Canes football.
Junior receiver Jeff Thomas is the latest Cane to leave the Hurricanes football program. He announced his plans Friday on Instagram to skip the Dec. 26 Independence Bowl and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.
Thomas, who at one time was widely considered UM’s most gifted player on offense, had a troubled career with the Hurricanes, which could hurt his draft stock.
Thomas was suspended multiple times during his three seasons at Miami. He was dismissed from the team by former coach Mark Richt on Nov. 21, 2018, indicated he was transferring to his home state school of Illinois, but instead was welcomed back for this season by current coach Manny Diaz.
Thomas said in April during spring practice that he wanted “to just finish what I started because I made a commitment that I was going to come here my freshman year. I just wanted things to be great again.”
He said at that time that everything was “great.’’
“Everybody showed me love like I never left or like I was planning on leaving,’’ Thomas said. “It felt good. I’m responding really well. I’m taking coaching every day, fixing my mistakes on and off the field so I could be a great player.
“...Everybody messes up. Everybody’s not perfect...”
This season, Thomas underwhelmed with 31 catches for 379 yards and three touchdowns — fourth best for UM behind K.J. Osborn, Michael Harley and Brevin Jordan.
In 2018, Thomas was dismissed for the final two games after a source told the Miami Herald that Thomas clashed with his former position coach and left the team angrily, choosing not to attend subsequent meetings. It was at least formerly a recurring theme of his career.
He was suspended two games this season for violating team policy.
Thomas’ final career numbers: 83 catches for 1,316 yards and eight touchdowns in 34 games played. This season he rushed seven times for 41 yards.
In addition to Thomas, junior defensive end Jon Garvin previously announced he was forgoing his senior season to enter the draft.
This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 8:17 PM.
