FSU Football: Top Five Recruiting Gifts of the Jimbo Fisher Era
By Ty Ragans
Timmy Jernigan
Everyone loves to see their team pull in the flashy skill-position players, but it’s the men in the trenches that allow teams to compete for championships. A dominating defensive tackle can thrust a defense into elite status. On February 2, 2011 Timmy Jernigan committed to FSU football, sending defensive line coach O’Dell Haggins into euphoria and giving FSU the dominating defensive tackle they needed to make their defense elite.
As an elite prospect, Timmy Jernigan received praise early in his high school career. In the early years, Jernigan was considered to be a near-lock for FSU’s in state rival, the University of Florida. With Urban Meyer leaving UF, the Seminoles were afforded the opportunity to get their foot into the door with Jernigan. In the end, Jimbo Fisher and O’Dell Haggins were able to convince Jernigan to bring his talents to Tallahassee.
Jernigan made an immediate impact at defensive tackle for FSU as a true freshman and got better every season. Jernigan was downright dominant for the 2013 defense that helped FSU football obtain their third national title. Considering how long Jernigan was thought to be a Gator lock combined with his immense production throughout his career, Jernigan has to be considered one of the top recruiting victories of the Fisher era.