2014 Florida State National Signing Day Predictions
By David Visser
It’s almost here. Tomorrow, high school seniors all over the country will put pen to paper and make official what sports fans have been gossiping and speculating about since, well, since we did the same thing last year. That being said, let’s get right into it, starting with who we positively know will be in this year’s FSU class.
Early Enrollees
These guys have already signed at FSU. Done deal.
Dalvin Cook, 5-star RB, Miami, FL
Trey Marshall, 4-star S, Lake City, FL
Kain Daub, 4-star LB, Jacksonville, FL
Kareem Are, 3-star OG, Fort Scott, KS
Stephen Gabbard, 2-star LS, Tallahassee, FL
Comfortable Commitments
These are verbal commitments fully expected to sign with FSU tomorrow. Their going elsewhere would qualify as shocking, at this point.
Travis Rudolph, 4-star WR, West Palm Beach, FL
Jacob Pugh, 4-star OLB, Tallahassee, FL
Demarcus Christmas, 4-star DT, Bradenton, FL
Delvin Purifoy, 4-star ILB, Pensacola, FL
Chad Mavety, 4-star OT, Garden City, NY
J.J. Cosentino, 4-star QB, Pittsburgh, PA
Corey Martinez, 4-star OG, Tampa, FL
Mavin Saunders, 4-star TE, Houston, TX
Rick Leonard, 3-star SDE, Middletown, MD
Alec Eberle, 3-star OC, Mechanicsville, VA
Ryan Izzo, 3-star TE, Sparta, NJ
Jonathan Vickers, 3-star RB, Tallahassee, FL
Brock Ruble, 3-star OT, Hyattsville, MD
Malique Jackson, 3-star ATH, Jesup, GA
Adam Torres, 3-star DT, Lake Mary, FL
Ethan Frith, 3-star OT, Summit, MS
Arthur Williams, 3-star DT, Fayetteville, NC
Fredrick Jones, 3-star DT, Miami, FL
The Drama
Here’s the real heart of National Signing Day: those on the fence. I’ll list these in order of descending confidence. I feel pretty strongly about the ones at the beginning.
Ermon Lane, 5-star WR, Homestead, FL
Lane decommited from Florida in January, just like his best friend Dalvin Cook. Cook committed to FSU shortly thereafter, and hosted Lane on his official FSU visit for the championship celebration last weekend. Lane looked like a ‘Nole prior to his trip, and the his time in Tallahassee seemed only to solidify his signing with the Seminoles. Pick: Florida State
Lorenzo Carter, 5-star WDE, Norcross, GA
Carter’s really had UGA on top the whole time, and the arrival of former FSU defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt probably only strengthened this. I’d be quite surprised if he didn’t stay home. Pick: Georgia
Chad Thomas, 5-star WDE, Miami, FL
The ‘Noles were able to get Thomas on campus in an attempt to flip him from his commitment to the ‘Canes, but non-football issues are probably playing a role here. Thomas has aspirations to be a player both on the field and in the music business, and Miami facilitates this better than Tallahassee. Pick: Miami
J.C. Jackson, 4-star WR, Immokalee, FL
Immokalee kids are renowned for their fickle nature with the recruiting process. Jackson turned down a chance to take his final official visit at FSU or Georgia, instead choosing to go suit shopping for his announcement. That kind of flair fits well in Coral Gables. Pick: Miami
Roderick Johnson, 4-star OT, Florissant, MO
The ‘Noles have been on the 6’ 6″ 315-pound Johnson for a while. I think they’ve been in the lead the whole time, and that he’s probably been Tallahassee-bound for quite some time. Pick: Florida State
Derrick Nnadi, 4-star DT, Virginia Beach, VA
Momentum seemed to start pushing Nnadi toward FSU the other week, and I haven’t really seen it swing back. I think he keeps the Virginia-FSU pipeline going. Pick: Florida State
Javon Harrison, 4-star WR, Lakeland, FL
Harrison is a Hokie commit, but the ‘Noles got him to Tallahassee the other weekend. I think he may be concerned about Dupre’s decision, but I believe FSU keeps him in Florida. Pick: Florida State
Dexter Wideman, 4-star DT, Saluda, SC
One reason I have Nnadi coming to the ‘Noles is because I think Wideman won’t. I’m a little surprised that his commitment has lasted this long, and I think he winds up staying in the Palmetto State. Pick: South Carolina
Jojo Robinson, 4-star WR, Miami, FL
Robinson’s been quiet lately, but I think he’s probably been gone for some time. I think he opts for more playing time and heads out of state to do so. Pick: Arkansas
Lorenzo Featherston, 4-star WDE, Greensboro, NC
Featherston committed surprisingly, when he gave his verbal to FSU. But I don’t think he sticks. He will, however, find another home in the ACC Atlantic. Pick: Clemson
Treon Harris, 4-star ATH, Miami, FL
Harris just witnessed an FSU QB transferring due to a lack of playing time, and I think he’s going to act proactively and head where the grass is greener for his chances to be the signal caller. The ‘Noles could convert him to DB, and he’d rather not change positions. There’s a better window out there for him, but I don’t think it’s in Gainesville, with Will Grier coming in. Pick: Miami
Malachi Dupre, 5-star WR, New Orleans, LA
I cannot believe how far down the list this one is (translation, I’m flummoxed). Dupre seemed completely set on LSU. Until he visited Tallahassee. How much could Jameis sway him? We’ll see, but it’s tough to pull these guys out of Louisiana. But I think it’s close. Pick: LSU
Malik McDowell, 5-star SDE, Southfield, MI
This story has been nuts. He likes Michigan State. His folks do not. The other day his mother said, “I want him out of Michigan. I don’t care if that’s Ohio State or Florida State.” I don’t really think Michigan is a contender here, and that leaves the Spartans, Buckeyes, and Seminoles. The folks are concerned about his socializing in East Lansing. If they’re that adamant about putting space between him and his current situation, then they’re big picture thinkers who probably realize that the best development he’ll get for the NFL will be at the D-Line factory that FSU has been. It could really be any of the three, but I think he goes bold. Pick: Florida State
There you have it. Get some sleep tonight, as it starts early tomorrow morning. And don’t sweat this too much, ‘Noles. We’ll have our answers for 2014 soon. And then we can exhale. For a moment. Before we start talking about 2015.