Hurricanes receiver Jeff Thomas is no longer a part of the Hurricanes football program, the school announced Wednesday afternoon.
Miami's announcement came hours after the receiver missed his second straight practice as rumors swirled about his status with the team.
"We have high standards for excellence, for conduct and for the commitment to team for all of the young men who wear our uniform and we will not waver from those standards," Hurricanes coach Mark Richt said in a statement. "We wish Jeff the very best as he moves forward in his journey."
Thomas, a sophomore, was not seen on the field during the media viewing portion of Wednesday's practice early in the day. A UM spokesman said at the time the sophomore was still a member of the football team, was still in Miami at the time and was not at practice due to personal reasons.
Hours later, all of that changed in the wake of some reported friction with the Hurricanes' coaching staff.
Thomas, who led the Hurricanes with 35 catches for 563 yards and three touchdowns, did not start last Saturday's game at Virginia Tech, with WQAM-560 reporting the receiver was dealing with a "tough love" lesson from coach Mark Richt.
Thomas did enter Miami's eventual 38-14 win and delivered one of the game's most dynamic plays, a 51-yard punt return that went for a touchdown. He finished the day with a game-high 110 all-purpose yards.
On Wednesday, Hurricanes quarterback N'Kosi Perry said he'd spoken to Thomas of late, but declined to give any specifics about what the two discussed. Miami offensive coordinator Thomas Brown also declined to share information about any conversations he may have had or was planning to have with Thomas.
"We'll handle it in-house," Brown said. "I'm not going to make a public comment about it. I'll say whatever I say to him off camera."
What both Perry and Brown were willing to discuss was Thomas' importance to the Miami offense, even as he's endured an up-and-down season that has included limited touches of late and an injury scare against Florida State.
In that game, Thomas was yanked down by the facemask and injured his knee. Since, the speedy, electric receiver has seen his numbers dip, with Thomas notching just one catch for five yards against Virginia, four catches for 31 yards against Boston College and four catches for 15 yards against Duke. He had six catches for a game-high 84 yards against Georgia Tech, but fumbled on a punt return deep inside Miami territory. The Yellow Jackets scored four plays later in what was eventually a 27-21 Georgia Tech win.
"Very important," Brown answered Wednesday when asked about Thomas' role in the offense. "All of our guys are important. So, we love the guys that are here and we're going to move forward and get ready to win this football game."
Added Perry, "He's a huge part of the team. He's a great player and I can't wait 'til he's here."
When asked, though, if he expected Thomas to return any time soon, Perry replied, "You have to ask the coaches."
Richt did not speak to reporters Wednesday and is not scheduled to speak again publicly until after Saturday's game against newly-crowned Coastal Division champion Pittsburgh.
His statement was issued late in the afternoon.
If Thomas was unhappy with how his season had gone or any discipline that had been handed down by Richt or any other member of the Miami staff, his displeasure would be the latest in a series of off-field issues the Hurricanes have dealt with during their tumultuous 6-5 season.
Three of Miami's four quarterbacks have been suspended this year, the most recent coming Saturday when freshman Jarren Williams did not travel for the game at Virginia Tech. Also suspended last week was linebacker Mike Pinckney, who posted a message on social media apologizing to teammates and fans after taking an unauthorized pain medication.
On the field, the Hurricanes have also dealt with the loss of former standout receiver Ahmmon Richards, who suffered a career-ending neck injury and has not played since Miami's season-opening loss to LSU.
There exists, too, the possibility that several other young playmakers aren't happy, a reality Perry acknowledged Wednesday. But the quarterback, who himself has gone through a suspension this year and has alternated starts with veteran Malik Rosier, said he's tried to provide encouragement.
"For freshmen, I definitely tell them how I was last year. I didn't play one down," Perry said. "There are some freshmen that's playing, may not be happy, but you're playing as a freshman. You should be very proud."
