FSU recruiting storylines to follow a week from Early Signing Day
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Here are the recruiting storylines FSU fans should follow with a week until Signing Day…
Florida State has the nation’s No. 3 ranked recruiting class in 2024 and there is only a week left until the Early Signing Period commences.
There are still many variables at play that could either bump FSU’s class up even higher or things could play out where the class could drop in the 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings.
KEEPING THE CLASS INTACT
Florida State’s No. 3 ranked class has some elite prospects in the boat right now. That means other programs will be relentless in trying to flip some of FSU’s current commitments. Here are the prospects FSU needs to work to keep in the class over the next week:
5-star DBÂ KJ Bolden:
— Bolden is FSU’s highest ranked commitment so it’s understandable that schools haven’t stopped pursuing him. Auburn and Georgia are the two programs with a chance to flip Bolden. Auburn hosted him on an unofficial visit last Monday before sending head coach Hugh Freeze in-home last week. UGA head coach Kirby Smart also conducted an in-home visit with Bolden and his family last week. The Bulldogs continue to push for a visit this week but regardless, I think the Seminoles still have a good shot to keep Bolden in the class. He’s slated to take his official visit to Tallahassee this weekend and that should act as a good insurance policy for the ‘Noles as they look to sign the No. 1 safety in the country. It’s not over until it’s over with a prospect this talented but FSU has played this recruitment well and should be able to close down the stretch.
5-star Edge Armondo Blount
— It’s a classic FSU vs. Miami recruiting battle for Blount — especially after the Seminoles flipped him from the Hurricanes in October. The ‘Canes haven’t let up however and have gone in-home with Blount two to three times over the past few weeks as they look to get him back in the fold. FSU and Miami are both pushing to get Blount on campus this weekend. I think that’ll be the data point to monitor as these two schools battle it out. If he’s in Tallahassee this weekend, I feel confident FSU can sign him. If he’s in Miami, I think he’ll flip back to the Hurricanes. We’ll be keeping a close eye on Blount’s whereabouts this weekend.
5-star DBÂ Charles Lester
— A report surfaced earlier this week that Colorado could be making a late play at FSU five-star cornerback commit Charles Lester. However, Lester told Noles247.com that he’ll be in Tallahassee and around the program for the next two weeks before signing and joining the football team for Orange Bowl practices on December 26. I’m not worried about Lester’s commitment status to FSU and fully believe he signs with the ‘Noles next Wednesday.
CAN FSU FLIP THE BEST PLAYER IN AMERICA?
FSU has as good of a chance as any program to land the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit, five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. He’s currently committed to Ohio State and the Buckeyes have a strong pitch to Smith about coming into a program that consistently churns out NFL wide receivers.
However, FSU will likely get the last visit for Smith — as they hosted him on an official visit this past weekend — and they’ll look to close out on the flip over the next week. Smith has a strong relationship with head coach Mike Norvell and wide receivers coach Ron Dugans and FSU is extremely competitive in the NIL space — which is a factor for pretty much every top recruit.
Miami is another school to watch as they’re located in Smith’s hometown, South Florida, and the Hurricanes could sell Smith on landing a transfer quarterback like Cam Ward — who is currently on campus for a visit in Coral Gables.
I still like FSU’s chances to close out for Smith as I’ve feel like they’ve executed a well-designed plan over the last few months. Smith, to our knowledge, hasn’t been up to Ohio State since October and he watched both the Hurricanes and Gators lose to the Seminoles in-person this season. FSU also ran a calculated risk by holding out on their official visit with Smith for this past weekend.
A FLIP FROM THE GATORS IS STILL ON THE TABLE
FSU will make their last in-person push on Wednesday with Florida five-star defensive line commit LJ McCray.
The Seminoles hosted McCray on an unofficial visit after his state championship game in Tallahassee last week and head coach Mike Norvell, along with several staffers, will visit with McCray and his family today to make their final pitch.
Auburn is the other program working hard to flip McCray down the stretch and the Tigers are an appealing option due to the appeal of playing in the SEC and their NIL game being top-notch.
The Gators feel strong that they can hold onto McCray’s pledge so it’ll be interested to see if either the ‘Noles or Tigers can change his mind over the next week.
Landing McCray, the No. 2 ranked defensive lineman in the country, would be a massive win for FSU — who badly needs to recruit high school defensive lineman at a better rate.
SOME UNCOMMITTED TARGETS TO MONITOR
There are still a few uncommitted targets to monitor for the Seminoles…
3-star DTÂ D’Nas White:
— I feel great about where Florida State stands with three-star defensive tackle D’Nas White who was on campus this past weekend for an official visit. Miami and Tennessee are still involved but the Seminoles made a strong move for the North Carolina native on his recent visit and I feel strongly that the ‘Noles can close out in his recruitment.
4-star Edge Lugard Edokpayi:
— As things currently stand, Lugard Edokpayi is scheduled to officially visit Florida State this weekend. FSU offered Edokpayi this fall as he impressed many teams with his senior film. At 6-foot-6, 230-pounds, Edokpayi has intriguing length that has programs like Michigan, Minnesota, Rutgers and others pushing late. I’m unsure of where FSU stacks up in his recruitment. If he does make it to Tallahassee this weekend, we should have a better idea of where things stand with the DMV native and FSU.
4-star DBÂ Zavier Mincey:
— FSU has always been semi-involved with LJ McCray’s teammate at Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland, four-star defensive back Zavier Mincey. But, I’ve never viewed the Seminoles as a contender to actually land him. I still feel the same way about the ‘Noles’ chances with Mincey week out from Signing Day. If I had to predict where he ends up, I think Miami is a program with some momentum in his recruitment. Florida and Alabama are also involved.
I dont’ expect FSU to be a factor down the stretch for prospects like three-star Wisconsin defensive back commit Xavier Lucas, four-star Miami wide receiver commit Joshisa Trader, four-star Minnesota linebacker commit Koi Perich and four-star Miami defensive line commit Artavius Jones. All four were involved with FSU in varying degrees throughout the process but the ‘Noles are no longer active with these prospects.
