DELRAY BEACH – No one saw this coming.

Earlier this year, Atlantic (Delray Beach) senior defensive tackle Zyin Thomas released his top five college destination list. It consisted of Pittsburgh, FAU, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, and Georgia State.

Thomas, who put out his top five on July 11, ended up choosing none of these schools. He went on to surprise everyone outside of his inner circle to go with UCF earlier this Thanksgiving afternoon (Nov. 26).

The No. 1-ranked defensive tackle and No. 11 overall player in Palm Beach County briefly spoke on the reasoning behind his final college decision.

“I felt the connection was there,” the 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive tackle said. “I really like the program. I can be a great fit there.”

If Thomas sticks to his verbal commitment and goes on to ink with UCF on either Early National Signing Day or National Signing Day, then he would be third Knights player from Palm Beach County.
The Delray Beach product would join freshman linebacker Fradley Joseph (Suncoast alum) and freshman defensive back Daniel McCullon (Benjamin alum) on the UCF team in 2021.

PHOTO CREDITS: UCF Football and Epiphany Photography