After a dismal 2-10 season in 2024, Florida State underwent a major coaching overhaul, firing offensive coordinator Alex Atkins, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, and wide receivers coach Ron Dugans. With these changes, FSU now boasts the 18th-ranked recruiting class for 2025—but the Seminoles took a huge hit when five-star offensive guard Solomon Thomas made a shocking decision to flip his commitment to LSU on Early Signing Day.
It turns out that former offensive coordinator Alex Atkins played a key role in Thomas’ change of heart. In an exclusive interview with Rivals, Thomas revealed that Atkins’ glowing recommendation of LSU’s coaching staff helped seal the deal.
“I went to a practice and asked my ex-coach at Florida State about the LSU offensive line coach, and he said, ‘He’s a great guy on and off the field. He’ll take care of you beyond football,'” Thomas shared. “That’s the type of coach I wanted to play for.”
For Thomas, Atkins was more than just a coach—he was a father figure, a mentor, and someone he trusted deeply. His departure from FSU was a significant blow, and Thomas admitted he had always viewed Atkins as the reason he initially committed to the Seminoles.
“Atkins was like a father figure to me,” Thomas said. “I couldn’t see anyone replacing him at FSU, and that made it tough to stay after he left.”
While FSU has since brought in new coaching leadership with Gus Malzahn at the helm and Herb Hand to coach the offensive line, the damage was done. To add insult to injury, the Seminoles have now seen their top recruit flip for the fourth consecutive year. Still, FSU is regrouping with four high-profile offensive line transfers and a top-tier transfer class, currently ranked No. 7 in the nation.
For Thomas, however, it’s a new chapter in Baton Rouge, with LSU now the destination of choice thanks in part to Atkins’ influence. The Tigers have landed a major recruit, and FSU’s coaching staff shakeup continues to reverberate across the recruiting landscape.
