FSU Football: Why recruiting class rankings can be deceptive with Noles

FSU Football could have the worst final ranking when it comes to their 2020 recruiting class in decades – but that number doesn’t always justify things.

Come Wednesday, the first part of the #Tribe20 signing class for the FSU football team will have their names signed to the forms officially making them Seminoles – and by the looks of things at this point, it could be one of the worst classes the Noles have had in decades when it comes to rankings.

As of Saturday, the 2020 class at this point – one that saw plenty of decommitments take place after former head coach Willie Taggart was shown the door following the team’s loss to Miami in early November – ranked 24th nationally by 247 Sports. That number was easily the worst the Noles have seen in the last two decades.

But, when you look at the numbers for FSU football over that span, has it always been the worst thing to have a number that some fans would call disappointing?

Florida State Seminoles Football

During the era in which some fans love to call the “lost decade” that came after the dynasty era of the Noles ended, the Seminoles had the top ranked recruiting class in both 2001 and 2004 while having the second ranked class in both 2002 and 2005 – while having six losses in a season in 2006, 2007 and 2009 with plenty of those star players.

By contrast, the 2009 class for FSU football was ranked 11th nationally by 247 Sports and was the start of the end of the Bobby Bowden era with the Seminoles – but the class included such current NFL stars as Chris Thompson, Xavier Rhodes and Dustin Hopkins who all shined for the Seminoles during their time, including winning the first ACC title since 2005.

The 2013 class – the same season FSU football won the national title and included such players as Jalen Ramsey – was ranked 11th nationally while the three classes afterward all ranked in the top four nationally…and helped the Seminoles go 2-5 in the 2017 season before being saved to go 7-6 and leading to Taggart being hired.

Of course, like many fans of the Seminoles, I want them to have the best class possible and hope that last day moved by new coach Mike Norvell and the staff he is putting together will get the best number possible next to the class.

But, with that being said, if the Seminoles do get a class in the top 20 nationally it may not be the worst thing – and could actually lead to what we hope is a turnaround.