ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has said repeatedly he'd like to see more of freshman running back Jermaine Thomas. And offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has said repeatedly he'd like to get the young playmaker more carries.

	Rex Brown/Getty Images
	Florida State freshman running back Jermaine Thomas is OK with his backup role -- but is ready whenever the Seminoles call his number.

But unless leading rusher Antone Smith is in pain, it never seems to happen, and Thomas doesn't care. Really.

"My main goal coming in this year as a freshman was to just contribute any kind of way that was possible," he said. "I'm not jealous or mad, and the thought really never crossed my mind. Of course I'm a football player and I want to get out there on the field to help the team and be a part of the win, but it never really crossed my mind."

Thomas has come a long way since he arrived on campus. He said the playbook was hard for him to learn and he was thinking and hesitating too much. Now he said he's able to "strictly play football." He had a career day against Georgia Tech with 130 yards on nine carries. His 62-yard run against the Yellow Jackets in the second quarter was not only his career long, but it was also the longest run by a Seminole this season. Thomas is just the eighth true freshman in school history to rush for over 300 yards.

"Not being arrogant or bragging or anything at all, but I promise when I went out there I just really was just playing football," Thomas said. "The week of practice preparing for the Georgia Tech game, I knew all my stuff, I took mental reps, I watched Antone, who is in front of me, doing the correct things. I learned from him, I learned some things from Jimbo and my position coach. I was just prepared when my number was called."

Thomas has played in seven of eight games this season and carried the ball 41 times. He is averaging 8.4 yards per carry, a stat inflated by the Miami game in which he carried the ball twice for 51 yards. The coaching staff seemed to regret the fact Thomas didn't get in the game against Wake Forest when the offense was struggling. Thomas speaks of Smith with adoration, though. He said Smith has been going to treatment and "should be ready to go this weekend."

"I love him and I look up to him a lot," Thomas said. "He has a lot of experience. He's been in big-time game situations and different things like that so I'm constantly asking him questions throughout the day, watching film, and he's constantly going over different plays and telling me different techniques so he's a blessing for me."

And when he gets in the game, Thomas has been the same for the Noles.