Insider Report: Latest with the linebackers; Fisher praises Gavin; more

With just over two weeks remaining before the season opener against Alabama, Florida State's linebacker situation still remains murky.

Redshirt senior linebacker Matthew Thomas was once again absent from practice Thursday, and his status with the team remains unchanged, a university spokesman told Warchant.

Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher told reporters Tuesday, "there are some other things going on" with Thomas, but he did not elaborate on the situation. Fisher did say that he expects Thomas to return to practice in the coming days, and the spokesman told Warchant on Thursday evening that what Fisher said Tuesday is "still valid."

Thomas, one of nine returning starters on the FSU defense, was present for the first week of preseason camp. His first absence came a few days into Week 2. Fisher initially said Thomas, who also missed Sunday's scrimmage, was out with an illness. By Tuesday, Fisher said Thomas did not have a virus and that he plans on having the weakside linebacker, among other players, back in camp at some point.

"I plan on everybody being back, and I don't plan on nobody not being there," Fisher said after Tuesday's practice. "When they get back from injuries and get back from things, they'll be back."

Thomas, a 6-foot-4 and 227-pound Miami native, came to FSU in 2013 and played in four games before sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury. He returned in 2014 to play in eight games and was ruled ineligible for the 2015 season.

He managed to stay healthy in 2016 and led the Seminoles with 77 tackles while starting 12 of the team's 13 games. Thomas amassed a career-best 15 tackles in FSU's 33-32 win over Michigan in the Capital One Orange Bowl.

FSU also has missed sophomore middle linebacker Dontavious Jackson at times this preseason; he again was held out of Thursday's practice. The former four-star prospect has been visible at practice and has worn a knee brace in recent days.

Missing Jackson and Thomas leaves the Seminoles with nine scholarship linebackers. Of those nine, four can play inside. It's a group that consists of redshirt junior Delvin Purifoy, sophomore Emmett Rice, redshirt sophomore and junior college transfer Adonis Thomas and freshman Leonard Warner.

Purifoy, a former four-star prospect, has been hindered by injuries and is still yet to play a collegiate down. Rice had 12 tackles in 12 games last season. Adonis Thomas, a former Alabama player, had 73 tackles playing for Northwest Mississippi Community College in 2015, while Warner is in his first season.

Fisher said Tuesday he liked what he saw from the inside linebackers and specifically discussed Rice's progress.

"He's extremely physical. That guy will pop you, now," Fisher said of Rice. "He can take on a blocker, throw a shoulder. He's physical. He really is. You think of a guy like that and he can come downhill and play. He's so athletic, can run and he's a really good space player too."