2022 blue-chip LB Wesley Bissainthe chooses Miami over Noles

2022 FSU recruiting lost a huge battle Saturday afternoon when 2022 blue-chip linebacker Wesley Bissainthe chose Miami over the Noles on CBSSports HQ.

This recruiting battle for a quality south Florida player is the type that could help the Noles climb back to prominence while Miami continues to struggle with their organization.

Bissainthe hails from Miami Central, the home of FSU great Dalvin Cook. Wesley Bissainthe checks in as the No. 196 player overall and No. 20 linebacker nationally.

Bissainthe’s recruiting has taken lots of twists and turns. He was the recruit that threw down the U while visiting FSU over the summer and caught a lot of heat from local folks in Miami.

The drama surrounding Miami’s program and need at linebacker had many thinking FSU had the edge in the recruitment. However, it seemed every time FSU got him on campus he found his way right back on Miami’s campus.

He is considered the No. 23 player in Florida. Sabbath Joseph, Randy Shannon, Chris Marve, and the rest of the coaching staff visited Bissainthe earlier this week, which displayed how much of a priority he was in the class:

FSU linebacker coach Chris Marve has to finish this recruiting cycle strong or he’s going to have a lot of questions to answer. Better yet, Mike Norvell may have some questions to answer if he decides to keep Marve on staff if the misses their remaining targets.

The development of Kalen DeLoach and the productivity of DJ Lundy this season were impressive, but there’s no reason FSU should be struggling to land linebackers when there’s a huge need at the position.

I wondered why FSU was still in contact with Georgia Tech commit Jaron Willis with how he handled his recruiting this summer, and the staff’s uncertainty about Bissainthe could be the culprit. Willis and Mississippi State graduate transfer Aaron Brule could be potential targets in the class.