I hate it when people say stuff like that Tate and Thomas would be two guys with a level of non-Illinois notoriety we haven't had on our field since Wes Lunt was a three-year starter here. That is what is being reacted to, and that shiny new toy value among the fans goes away the second they make a mistake.
Maybe that would be the case with Tate since ANYONE who plays QB will be criticized and eventually make mistakes. I don't see that with Thomas.
The WR play has been so bad the last three years I can't imagine getting upset with Thomas. I mean, yeah, if he continually drops passes and muffs punts I can see that happening but he was a playmaking machine at a good program. The bar is just so low here that I can't imagine people getting too critical of him if he were to actually play most of the season.
A lot of times these higher profile transfers are transferring because they aren't living up to the hype or are not getting playing time. A guy like Fayson or even Lunt comes to mind. Lunt only came here because he fell to third on the depth chart at OK State.
The reasons that Tate and Thomas are transferring appear to be different. Tate isn't a fit for what Mazzone is trying to do and they aren't putting him in the same position to succeed the way he was under Rod.
Another thread addresses the issues with Thomas and they have very little to do with his play making ability.
Your comments would probably be more applicable for someone like Luke Ford who could have been overrated out of HS and has not been productive at all in college. I would keep my expectations in check for someone like him if he transfers and is eligible in 2020.