About Peyton Thomas

Peyton has been playing soccer since age five, beginning her journey in a church soccer league in Columbus, Ohio.

My name is Peyton Thomas and I am a 2026 graduate playing at Jacksonville FC 08 ECNL in Jacksonville, Florida. I am a 5' 6" play maker, playing as a box to box Mid(8). I am versatile and can play as an 10 or as a wide forward as needed. I take pride in my ability to intercept passes, apply pressure as well as starting our attacks and supporting plays when needed. I consider myself a good teammate who trains and plays hard and am very interested in continuing soccer at the next level in a school environment that helps me to continue to grow as a player. I'm an all A honor roll student, maintaining a 4.5 GPA and look forward to majoring in engineering. I go to Beachside High School and is a 3 year varsity starter and have received the golden boot award all 3years.

Position: Midfielder/Forward

Team: Jacksonville FC/Beachside High School

Club Achievements: Offered a spot to play for UNF womens soccer team, ECNL: Was invited to ECNL playoff for years 2023, 2024, 2025,

High School Achievements: Three year varsity starter, three golden boot winner(most goals), Most Hat tricks in school history

News

Peyton Commits to UNF!!!

My Journey.

The recruiting process started off really exciting, everything was new to me. I was getting noticed, talking to coaches, and exploring schools. A lot of girls around me were committing early to big programs, but I knew I wanted to find the right school for me. I went on several visits and had calls with some amazing schools. But as time went on, I watched my friends and teammates commit one by one. That was tough. I started to feel discouraged at times, even though I still believed in taking my time to find the perfect fit. Eventually, I got my first offer. I was thrilled. The school and soccer program were great, and I really liked it, but I wasn’t 100% sure. So, I kept going on visits and talking to coaches, trying to stay open-minded. Then, the 28 person roster limit went into effect for my graduation year, and suddenly things got harder. Several coaches told me they didn’t have any more room on their rosters, and that added a lot of pressure. I started to worry, what if I waited too long? During my spring break, I decided to attend the UNF ID camp, which is something I do every year. The camp went really well, and I enjoyed it a lot. Afterward, I talked to the coach to check in on where they were with recruiting. He told me they were still looking at 2026s, and I was excited to hear that. Over the next few weeks, I continued speaking with other coaches and even attended my first college practice, which was an amazing experience. Then, two more offers came in, and I knew it was time to start seriously thinking about my decision. I went on another visit to a school I really liked, and things were starting to come together. On the way home, I got a surprise email inviting me to visit UNF. I was so excited to have that opportunity, and even more excited to talk recruiting with them. The visit to UNF was amazing. I had so much fun and connected really well with the players and coaching staff. At the end of the visit, they told me they’d offer me a spot if I wanted it. I couldn't believe it. Being recognized and having the chance to stay close to home made it even more special. With the final ECNL showcase of the year coming up, I knew a decision needed to be made. I kept thinking about where I was most wanted and more importantly, where I could grow the most as both a player and a person. It came down to two schools, but ultimately, I went with my heart. I reached out to the UNF coaches before ECNL North Carolina and told them I wanted the offer and I accepted it right away. I’m still so happy with my decision and incredibly thankful to be able to play for such an amazing school. I can’t wait to start this next chapter of my journey.

Date:5/25/2025