Clemson loses 4-star cornerback target to rivals Florida State

On Sunday, Clemson missed out on one of its top cornerback prospects . Four-star recruit Gregory “Zae” Thomas committed to ACC rival Florida State. Thomas had narrowed his choices down to Clemson and Florida State, ultimately choosing the Seminoles.

Thomas received his offer from Clemson in April after an unofficial visit and returned for an official visit in early June. Although some recruiting services list him as a safety, Clemson saw his potential as a cornerback. He is ranked as the No. 190 player overall and No. 23 in Florida.

Florida State had been the frontrunner in Thomas’s recruitment, partly due to their defensive backs coach, Patrick Surtain Sr., who coached Thomas in high school. This connection gave the Seminoles an edge in securing Thomas’s commitment.

Clemson will look elsewhere to continue to bolster their secondary in the 2025 recruiting class.