FSU football: Could Noles land first defensive tackle in 2022 cycle soon?

FSU football needs to get better in the trenches in a hurry if they wish to compete at an elite level anytime soon.

The defensive tackle position is of great importance in the 2022 recruiting cycle and the biggest need, as I wrote months ago.

The Noles have struggled to land quality blue-chip players and haven’t signed a blue-chip defensive tackle out of high school since Robert Cooper and Dennis Briggs Jr. in 2018.

I’ve praised Odell Haggins for all that he’s done for FSU football, even as interim coach, but he has to show and prove this recruiting cycle.

One of his biggest targets, three-star Bishop Thomas, seems to be trending towards FSU. Thomas isn’t rated as a blue-chip recruit, but there’s a lot to like about his game, and he may be underrated a bit. FSU has featured defensive tackles that eat up space without being too disruptive. That isn’t the case with Thomas, as he can create havoc beyond the line of scrimmage.

Thomas made it to campus for the spring game and was the first recruit standing out in front of the Moore Center, waiting on Mike Norvell to open the doors for the Midnight Madness event.

Thomas ranks as the No. 549 player overall, No. 85 defensive linemen, and No. 74 player in Florida with eight offers. Other teams like Penn State, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Texas, Louisville, and Illinois are pursuing his commitment.

He checks in at 6’2″ and 285 pounds.

Thomas plans to be back on FSU’s campus for his official visit later this month on June 25. Why do I think the Noles could land him soon? Well, the official visit will be his third to Tallahassee in about a two months.

247 writer Steve Wiltfong placed a prediction for the Noles Wednesday, the second one for FSU since March. If Thomas decides to join the 2022 recruiting class, it would be the first one many key commitments in the defensive trenches.