Amari Thomas

Physical Profile

Listed at 5-10, 187 lbs. Taller than 30% and heavier than 33% of 2026 Running Back prospects in the SEC Scouts database (138 with a listed size).

Play Style

A one-cut, north-south runner who presses the line, puts his foot in the ground and gets vertical quickly. He runs through contact and finishes forward instead of bouncing outside. His senior film shows him turning one missed tackle at the second level into a long touchdown, though against much smaller defensive backs. He fits best in gap and duo concepts where he reads a single block and attacks. He is not an elusive, space-first back who wins with jump cuts.

Strengths

• Runs inside with power and contact balance, and lowers his pads well. FSU spring observers singled out how he finishes runs through tackles.
• Explosive production: 15.4 yards per carry and 21 rushing TDs on only 117 senior carries shows he hits the hole decisively and turns clean looks into big gains, even against small-school 1A competition.
• Ready for college physically: at 210 pounds he can handle short-yardage and goal-line work in Year 1 without a long strength-program redshirt.
• Useful as a receiver out of the backfield: 7 catches for 189 yards (27.0 avg) and 3 TDs point to reliable hands on screens and checkdowns.
• Picked up 15+ FBS offers (Florida, Miami, Ole Miss, Auburn, Kentucky, Louisville, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Colorado, others), and Power 4 programs kept recruiting him through three commitment changes.

Areas to Improve

• Long speed: evaluators question whether he can outrun Power 4 safeties on angles. Big runs in 1A football won't carry over automatically, and his path to a feature role runs through better acceleration and top-end speed.
• Pass protection and receiving volume: only 7 senior catches means he was barely used in the passing game. Blitz pickup and reading protections will decide whether he gets third-down snaps.
• Competition level: Blountstown plays small-school Panhandle football, so his vision and patience against ACC-speed fronts, especially in zone schemes, still have to be proven.

College Projection

He is FSU's RB3 as a true freshman, behind sophomore Ousmane Kromah and senior Quintrevion Wisner, after spring reports said he was ahead of schedule. For 2026, expect rotational carries, short-yardage and red-zone work, and possibly special teams, with a chance to preserve a redshirt under the four-game rule if the backs ahead of him stay healthy. Wisner leaves after 2026, so Thomas projects as a 1B power back beside Kromah in 2027, with a possible lead-back role in 2028 if his speed and pass protection improve.

NFL Outlook

He projects as a Day 3 prospect or priority free agent at this stage. NFL teams value 210-pound backs with contact balance and short-yardage ability, but a lack of long speed limits his ceiling at a position that is already devalued. Moving up the draft board would require running a 4.5-flat or better at the Combine, becoming a trusted pass protector, and producing well in the ACC as a primary ball carrier, around 1,000 yards in a season.

Best Fit

A pro-style or gap/duo rushing offense that uses a committee and can use a physical early-down and goal-line back, which is roughly what Florida State runs under Mike Norvell. He would struggle as a featured back in an air-raid or wide-zone scheme built around perimeter speed and backs who win in space.