FSU Football returns to recruiting Sunshine State with 2019 class

FSU football has kept a majority of their class in state in 2019 and gone back to putting an emphasis on recruiting the best talent in the country.

There is no doubt that when you put the best high school talent from each state head to head against each other, the state of Florida would come out on top each time – and FSU football has taken advantage of that at times and kept some of the best Sunshine State players home to suit up for the Seminoles.

From South Florida to the panhandle and all points in-between, the Noles have had times where they have realized you need to stay home if you want to succeed – and at other times forgotten that rule, with the results on the field showing it.

Toward the end of the previous administration and in the final decade under legendary head coach Bobby Bowden, FSU football would expand and start taking kids from across the country. While I will not argue getting the top players no matter where they are from, ignoring Florida players is no reason to do so.

One user on Reddit complied a list of the recruits in each of the previous five signing classes for all the ACC programs – and the results on the field do go along with the decrease in the number of Florida players recruited for the garnet and gold each year.

"2014 – 15 out of 29 signees (52%)2015 – 13 out of 20 (65%)2016 – 13 out of 25 (52%)2017 – 12 out of 24 (50%)2018 – 9 out of 21 (43%)"

Now, I’m not going to be stupid and say that’s the only reason for the decline – but Florida high school players are, for the most part, more prepared for the college game due to the level of talent they play in the prep world. Last season’s number, also, was due in part to head coach Willie Taggart having to use his West Coast and Georgia connections on short notice.

But there is no reason why FSU football should have less recruits from Florida (nine) than Louisville did last class (12). With all the talent here, some players are going to get out – but the Seminoles (along with Florida and Miami) should be getting first pick and leaving the rest for the other schools.

The #Tribe19 class for the Noles currently is back to recruiting the Sunshine State with 12 of the 19 players either signed or verbally committed coming from the state of Florida. Three of the four verbals will be making official visits this weekend along with nine players from states other than Florida.

I get that the Seminoles are a national brand and we need to bring in players like current stars Cam Akers, Tamorrion Terry and more – but the state of Florida should be closed off to the rest of the country until the Noles have chosen the players they want. One way to do that? Get back to winning on the field.