FSU Football will welcome the latest class of high school stars who made the move to become Seminoles with the early signing period starting Wednesday.
For the third straight year, the FSU football team will not have to wait until the first Wednesday in February to find out which players are going to sign with the Seminoles as the early signing day period takes place – an institution in the NCAA since December of 2017 that has allowed plenty of high school stars to get the madness over with.
The madness this season for the Seminoles includes a new coach leading the program for a third time in the last four seasons – and while Mike Novell has been able to get several players to make commitments to the Noles leading up to Wednesday, several decommitments have left many wondering what the class will look like.
So, can FSU football bounce back and get their class back in the top 20 of the final rankings when it’s all said and done? Can some of those decommitments make their way back to Tallahassee by the end of the week? Which un-committmed players are going to make the right move and sign with the Seminoles?
Ja’Khi Douglas / WR (Houma, LA Terrebonne)
He isn’t the tallest man in the world at just 5’9″ tall – but he is a smart player both on and off the field and comes to Tallahassee as a four star recruit who has the potential to play right off the top in 2020.
Chubba Purdy / QB (Gilbert, AZ Perry)
This is the one that many FSU football fans are going to be praising Norvell and his staff for flipping at the last minute as Purdy was committed to fellow ACC Atlantic division foe Louisville all the way up until making the decision to flip at the last minute to the Seminoles.
Being ranked in the top 10 nationally when it comes to dual threat quarterbacks, Purdy was a touchdown machine this season for his high school program that included going for a total of 10 touchdowns – in a single game.
Tate Rodemaker / QB (Valdosta, GA)
Before Purdy made everything just fine for the Seminoles on Wednesday, Rodemaker was the one who made life a little easier at the quarterback position after longtime commit Jeff Sims decommitted before eventually going to Georgia Tech.
The three star recruit from the Peach State is one of the top ranked pro style quarterbacks in the country and could see some serious interest in being part of the Seminoles’ game plan early on as the new era will see more of a turn back toward that style of play after throwing for over 40 touchdowns alone in his senior football season.
Jadarius Green-McKnight / DL (Fort Myers Dunbar)
A four star safety from a Southwest Florida school that has been good to FSU Football before, McKnight chose the Seminoles after being committed since February of 2018 and brings size and speed to a position of need for the Seminoles
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Josh Griffis / DE (Starke / IMG Academy)
This was one of the most interesting moves after Griffis – who grew up a fan of the Florida Gators just outside of Gainesville – decomitted from the Seminoles and went with Louisville, just to come back to Tallahassee and possibly be the next great defensive end for the Noles.
Bryan Robinson / WR (West Palm Beach Central)
This was a signing day move that was a win for the Seminoles in getting both someone that was a a position of need and someone that continues the South Florida pipeline to Tallahassee.
Thomas Shrader / OL (Venice)
If the Seminoles are going to go for size on the line, they don’t get much bigger – or better – than this 6’5″ target who, with the way things were in the past few seasons – could play early and often for the Seminoles in 2020.
Lawrance Toafili / RB (Pinellas Park)
With Cam Akers going pro, Toafili is someone that the Seminoles needed to make sure stayed committed – and this four star running back has the size and speed to follow in the line of players like Devonta Freeman, Dalvin Cook and Akers
Carter Boatwright / TE (Moultrie, GA Colquitt County)
A longtime commit to the Seminoles made it official today and will join the same FSU football program as former high school teammate and current Seminoles kicker Ryan Fitzgerald was rated as one of the top 50 at his position in the country this season as part of one of the top offenses in the Peach State.
Jayion McCluster / LB (Largo)
The three star player was another one who was a longtime commit to the Seminoles and comes to town ready to take part in a defense that has been missing playmakers at his positon for years now. At 6’1 and 206 pounds, McCluster brings a fire to the position that could get him early playing time in the 2020 season.
Kentron Poitier / WR (Miami Palmetto)
One of the surprise commits during the early signing period leaves the backyard of the rival Canes and comes to Tallahassee ready to be a part of a passing game that is going to use his 6’3 frame for plenty in the coming seasons.
Poitier looks to replace other big names on the receiving unit – including Tre’shaun Harrison, who has entered the transfer portal for the upcoming college football season.
Stephen Dix Jr. / LB (Orlando Dr. Phillips)
A four star prospect who led his school to the state playoffs this past season. At 6’2 and weighing 210 pounds, he chose FSU football over others schools that included rivals Florida, Miami and Clemson.
Zane Herring / OL (Madison County)
The three star prospect helped lead the Cowboys to three straight state championships and chose the Seminoles over Nebraska and other schools.
Alex Mastromanno / P (Melbourne, Australia)
One of the first players in garnet and gold to come from the land down under, Mastromanno competed in Australian Rules football and will lead the new breed of punting in Tallahassee under head coach Mike Norvell.
Manny Rodgers / DT (Jensen Beach)
The product from Florida’s Treasure Coast was a four star prospect who was ranked in the Top 50 for the entire state this past season and chose the Seminoles over other schools like Florida and Miami among them.
Demorie Tate / DB (Orlando Freedom)
Tate was a must get for the Seminoles and Norvell as part of his work with a short time between his hire and signing day. The Central Florida product ranks as the fifth best at his position in the entire county and could see plenty of early playing time in 2020.
Check back with Chop Chat throughout the day as we update the #Tribe20 class with the latest signings through out the course of the day.