Dunbar grad leaving Cincinnati football program

“Salty that it had to come to this… but I will be transferring from the University of Cincinnati,” he wrote on Twitter. “I appreciate the love and support that y’all gave me while I was here.”

Thomas ran for 499 yards and six touchdowns last season, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and picked up 190 yards and another touchdown this season.

Because he played four games this season, Thomas still qualifies for a redshirt this year, but he is likely to have to sit out next season unless he is granted a waiver by the NCAA.

>>RELATED: Local receiver transferring from Ohio State to UC

A three-star prospect while starring for the Wolverines, he spent much of his senior season verbally committed to Oklahoma before ending up staying closer to home.

After serving as the team’s No. 2 back last season, he began this year sidelined for reasons coach Luke Fickell chose not to make public then made his season debut against Ohio State.

He ran for 58 yards against the Buckeyes but also lost a fumble in the fourth quarter.

Fickell told reporters last month Thomas would likely redshirt, citing unspecified on- and off-field reasons.

Thomas was among 16 players from the Cox Media Group Ohio coverage area on the UC roster at the beginning of the season, joining Leonard Taylor (Springfield), Cole Smith (Middletown), Ryan Montgomery (Franklin), Blue Smith (Wayne), Justin Harris (Wayne), Tyler Inloes (Lebanon), Michael Kopaygorodsky (Mason), Will Adams (Mason), Jake Tewart (Lebanon), Malik Vann (Fairfield), Darius Harper (Springfield), Cody Lamb (Miamisburg), Jonathan Allen (Dunbar), Jack Campbell (Bellbrook) and Bryant Johnson II (Butler).