FSU football: Thoughts on five-star DB KJ Bolden’s visit

FSU football is in the mix for a much higher-quality player from the high school ranks in the 2024 recruiting cycle compared to the past few years.

It’s the culmination of success on the field, identifying players early, and the staff’s ability to remain consistent in the messaging.

I pointed out last year, the staff used the pandemic as the time to lay the groundwork for many players in the 2023 recruiting cycle and beyond.

The vision then came to fruition, resulting in many top players visiting Tallahassee over the past year. A prime example is one of FSU’s biggest targets, five-star defensive back KJ Bolden, who FSU offered in July 2020.

Guys, he’s in the 2024 recruiting class, so that’s how long they’ve laid this groundwork. Bolden was on campus this week for a two-day visit, his first visit to FSU since their spring game in April 2021.

Bolden spoke about the visit below:

Thoughts

I think Bolden deciding to visit for a two-day period is a big deal. It wasn’t just a stop by for a couple of hours visit, so there’s legitimate interest.

As he mentioned, he’ll visit other places like Alabama and already has an official visit set for Ohio State in June. When asked when he plans to visit again, he mentioned the Miami game, but that seemed more off the cuff than an actual plan.

FSU has to get him back on campus for an official visit, but I’d venture to say they have to get him back on campus before then too.

Bolden admits he grew up an FSU fan and likes how the coaches do things. He said his mother was impressed with the coaches too. Will this be one of the first of many big time defensive backs new defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain reels in?

However, the visits will tell us just how much he likes the Noles. Obviously, the success of the season will play a part in this process, and an opening season win over LSU would be huge for recruiting momentum and attracting top players like Bolden.

He’s the No. 4 player nationally, and FSU hasn’t signed a player of that caliber since the 2017 recruiting class when Jimbo Fisher signed three players in the top 10 overall.