By Tyler Barto
Twitter: @Tyler_Barto
tbarto@trentonian.com

PISCATAWAY — Nadir Barnwell was surprised as anyone when he found Ian Thomas in Rutgers' Hale Center facility, but he  didn't mind his fellow corner's return.

“We saw him and we were just like, ‘What’s up? You’re back,'" Barnwell said Tuesday. "'I’m glad you’re back. I’m mad at you, but I’m glad you’re back.’ That was about it.”

Thomas, who started three games a year ago, left the team midseason, opting to pursue what head coach Kyle Flood called a career in baseball. It led to several questions, since Thomas had not played in high school.

Thomas will not be made available to the media until next week.

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He is back five-and-a-half months later. With depth issues at corner, Rutgers can't complain.

“We welcome Ian. He’s a part of our brotherhood," corner Gareef Glashen said. "That’s family. Things happen, and we’re happy to have him back. He’s a good player.”

“It’s good because it was rough last year," Barnwell said. "We didn’t have as many corners. A lot of guys went down. Ian leaving, I’m glad we got him back. He’s a great corner, definitely can be one of the shutdown corners. It’ll be good to have him back on the other side of the field. That was one of my personal friends, so I’m definitely glad to have him back.”