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FSU Football: Analyzing Willie Taggart’s recruiting tendencies

By Kelvin Hunt

GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 25: Jacques Patrick #9 of the Florida State Seminoles carries during the first half of the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 25: Jacques Patrick #9 of the Florida State Seminoles carries during the first half of the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jason Behnken / Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Behnken / Getty Images) /

USF

Now, we have to remember Taggart wasn’t going to get many blue chip players at USF as he had to battle the big three (FSU, Florida and Miami) among other big time programs looking to poach the Sunshine State.

Taggart signed 35 players his final two seasons at USF with 19 of them being defensive and 16 being offensive. There were 30 players from the state of Florida and three JUCO players.

Here’s how the broke down via composite rankings:

  • 1 four-star
  • 32 three-stars
  • 2 two-stars

Of course recruiting needs change yearly with players graduating or leaving the program. It’s encouraging Taggart places emphasis on the defensive side of the ball.

However, it’s interesting to note 16 of the 19 players over those two years were defensive backs (9) and defensive ends (6). The other three players consisted of linebackers.

I’m not sure what USF’s roster looked like at the time, but it’s interesting he didn’t take a single defensive tackle in two recruiting cycles.

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