Florida State senior tailback Chris Thompson has decided to drop his long-shot appeal for a medical hardship and will enter the NFL Draft.
Thompson played in only 13 games the past two years, both of which ended with season-ending injuries. He and Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher had hoped to file an appeal to the NCAA that would have argued he should receive a medical redshirt based on the cumulative games missed (14) from 2011 and ’12.
Thompson led Florida State with 687 rushing yards this season and also had five touchdowns. He tore his ACL after a long catch-and-run in a 33-20 win at Miami on Oct. 20.
In 2011, he broke two vertebrae in his back in a Florida State loss at Wake Forest.
Thompson returned strong from the broken vertebrae in August, saying he felt better than he ever had. And he ran like it, rushing for 197 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Wake Forest and 103 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over Clemson.
Thompson’s decision was originally reported by the Orlando Sentinel on Wednesday morning and confirmed by FOX Sports Florida.
"I’m not really expecting to hear anything from (the NCAA)," Thompson told the Sentinel after Florida State's Orange Bowl win. "So I’ve decided to move on and see what happens.”
The Seminoles lose Thompson and fullback Lonnie Pryor but have experienced depth returning in 2013. Rising juniors Devonta Freeman (660 rushing yards, eight touchdowns) and James Wilder Jr. (635 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns) anchored the ground attack after Thompson's injury.
Florida State also has tailback Mario Pender, who took a redshirt after suffering a sports hernia injury in August.
