WVU football earns commitment from NFL camp participant, Georgia safety JaCorey Thomas
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MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia football received a commitment from former Carolina Panthers rookie minicamp participant and Georgia safety JaCorey Thomas, according to multiple outlets. With the new NCAA ruling of 5-for-5, multiple 2022 prospects, like Thomas, weren’t grandfathered in, causing them to sue the NCAA to gain extra eligibility. Last month, Thomas was granted a temporary restraining order in Texas to return to college for his fifth year.
After news of his extra year, Thomas entered the transfer portal and picked the Mountaineers.
Running out of eligibility under the old rules, Thomas turned professional and went undrafted this offseason in the NFL Draft. He did participate in Panthers rookie minicamp, but never landed on a roster. Prior to trying to make an NFL roster, Thomas played in 14 games for the Bulldogs and started in eight of them. He made 45 tackles and 26 solo stops. He also played in 14 games in 2024, starting in three. Thomas tallied seven tackles and broke up two passes.
Rich Rodriguez was skeptical of NFL players returning to college, with recent news that LSU was looking to add two former NFL players, including tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who participated in the Cleveland Browns preseason game. Rodriguez said he was waiting to find out more information, and was leaving a spot open in case the dust settled. But Rodriguez originally thought the idea was crazy.
“I mean, what are we doing here?” Rodriguez said towards the end of August. “It kind of boggles my mind.”
The Big 12, along with other conferences, released strict rules that don't allow professional athletes to come back to college. The SEC and LSU are currently in a legal battle regarding the Tigers’ additions of the two NFL players. Both of those players weren’t added to the roster prior to LSU’s first game against Clemson. Thomas’ case is a bit different since he never signed an NFL contract.
This isn’t the first 2022 5-for-5 player Rodriguez looked at adding. Former WVU cornerback Jason Chambers is currently on the roster, who ran out of eligibility under the old rules. The Mountaineers officially announced his return before the season. Fifth-year punter Mack Flynn from Robert Morris was also added.
Thomas will have to take some time to get up to speed and learn defensive coordinator Zac Alley’s system. But Thomas has the experience, playing multiple years in the SEC, to play at this level. If he were to sign, Thomas should provide depth to a secondary that could use some help after allowing Coastal Carolina quarterback Deuce Bailey to throw for 373 yards and mount a comeback.