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FSU Football: Willie Taggart scores big with assistant coach hire

By Jason Parker

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: A Florida State Seminoles cheerleader runs with a flag on the field during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2015 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: A Florida State Seminoles cheerleader runs with a flag on the field during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2015 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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FSU football has their first new assistant under their new head coach as Telly Lockette will be joining the staff – a huge win for the Noles.

In the week since Willie Taggart became the head coach of FSU football (has it only been that long), the questions have been all over the place about what kind of staff he will bring into Tallahassee – including the chances of bringing defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt from Oregon to the Seminoles along with other assistants he’s familiar with.

One of those names that came around was a man by the name of Telly Lockette – and it’s a name that all Florida State fans should know and love for several reasons. According to both the Orlando Sentinel and Tallahassee Democrat after being reported by another site, Lockette will be leaving his job at Oregon State to become a new assistant coach for the Noles – likely coaching the running backs or tight ends.

This is a hire that should be celebrated with a parade through the streets because of what this will mean for the position.

First off, Lockette is the man who coaches two of the best running backs in FSU football history when they were prep stars at Miami Central High School – Devonta Freeman and Dalvin Cook – and was reportedly influential in getting them to Tallahassee during his time with the Rockets.

Lockette’s hire will almost assure him of being the recruiting coordinator for the South Florida area, and who better to recruit Miami, Fort Lauderdale and other areas than someone who has the right connections for the huge recruiting territory that has been good to the Seminoles over the years.

With a running back group that will include freshman sensation Cam Akers and senior Jacques Patrick next season, Lockette is going to have a field day in turning them from good players into amazing talents if that is his assignment. He turned Marlon Mack, during his two seasons as an assistant coach at USF, into a 1,000 yard back who ended up being an NFL pick, so imagine what he can do with Akers.

More importantly, he knows the offense that Taggart is going to install with FSU football and there will not be a learning curve that needs to be in place. The two of them know each other very well and you can be willing to bet Lockette will be one of the most trusted assistants on staff.

Next: Can Willie Taggart win ACC in first season?

Lockette becomes the first assistant hired by Taggart,  while last year’s RB coach Jay Graham along with tight end coach and recruiting coordinator Tim Brewster following former FSU coach Jimbo Fisher to Texas A&M.

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