South Carolina football pledge decommits, flips to school where he was previously committed before flipping to Gamecocks

South Carolina football commitment Amari Thomas is no longer part of the Gamecocks’ recruiting class. In a full circle recruitment, the Rivals four-star running back has flipped his pledge to the Florida State Seminoles. Thomas had been committed to FSU previously before making an initial flip to USC this summer. Now, as the early signing period approaches, he is committed to Florida State again.

Thomas, who has been on campus in Columbia this fall, continued to communicate with Florida State. He made multiple visits to Tallahassee, including most recently for the Seminoles’ November 15th win over Virginia Tech.

He had been committed to South Carolina since August.

The Insiders Forum: Discuss South Carolina football!

Thomas was the only running back commitment for South Carolina’s 2026 class. However, the Gamecocks have remained in contention for a couple of other players in the ’26 cycle, including current Florida commit Carsyn Baker.

From a roster standpoint, Carolina is a little short on numbers at the running back position. Seniors Rahsul Faison, Oscar Adaway, and Bradley Dunn are out of eligibility. That leaves just rising redshirt junior Jawarn Howell, rising junior Isaiah Augustave, and rising redshirt sophomore Matt Fuller potentially in the fold for the 2026 campaign. Previously, head coach Shane Beamer said that he would like to have four or five scholarship players at the position.

All three of Howell, Augustave, and Fuller have experience, but South Carolina likely will hit the portal, too. For the past three seasons, a first-year Gamecock transfer has led the team in rushing. In 2023, it was Mario Anderson. Then, in 2024, Rocket Sanders led the charge. In 2025, Rahsul Faison is at the top of the USC stat book.

The Insiders Forum: Discuss South Carolina football!