"If Coach Kelly gets fired, I'm still going to LSU": Five-star IOL signee Solomon Thomas reaffirms his loyalty towards the Tigers

Former Florida State commit Solomon Thomas wasn’t happy with the major coaching overhaul of Florida State by firing offensive coordinator Alex Atkins. The five-star interior offensive lineman later flipped to Brian Kelly's LSU on the National Signing Day on Dec. 4.

Besides Kelly, Thomas also made a strong bond with LSU offensive line coach Brad Davis, who was his primary recruiter for the Tigers. While Atkins' dismissal disrupted Thomas' equation with FSU, he ensured that the same thing wouldn’t happen with LSU, saying (via Rivals):

"It doesn't matter if Coach Davis gets fired tomorrow, I'll still go to LSU. If Coach Kelly gets fired, I'm still going to LSU."

However, Thomas revealed how Atkins played a big role in his move from FSU to LSU by raving about Davis.

"I went to a practice, and I asked my ex-coach at Florida State about the offensive line coach at LSU, and he was like, 'He's a great dude on and off the field," Thomas told Rivals. "'He will take care of you beyond the football aspect of it,’ and that's always been a guy that I wanted to play for."

Thomas’ departure marks a significant blow to Florida State's recruiting efforts, with the Seminoles losing their 11th commitment in the 2025 class over the last three months. Meanwhile, his pledge gave LSU another five-star prospect besides cornerback DJ Pickett and running back Harlem Berry.

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Solomon Thomas raves about LSU's potential

Two biggest blows for LSU's 2025 class has been the decommitments of five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore and quarterback Bryce Underwood. Losing two offensive cornerstones left the Tigers scrambling, but the commitment of Solomon Thomas has provided a much-needed boost.

Thomas reaffirmed his trust in Brian Kelly’s vision for the program, saying (via On3):

"They are pushing for a national championship and they want to have the pieces in place to play for one in the next couple of years. I know they want to win there.”

Despite primarily being a tackle at the high school level, Thomas is projected to thrive as an interior lineman in college. His commitment also helps address a void at the guard position following the decommitment of four-star lineman Devin Harper. The Tigers also have four-star prospects Carius Curne and Tyler Miller.