FSU football: Can the Noles add 4-star DE Daniel ‘DD’ Holmes?
FSU football is still ranked No. 20 in the 2024 247Sports Composite rankings after its massive recruiting weekend, which featured 14 official visitors on campus.
One position to note during this recruiting cycle is defensive end. How will the Seminoles replace the likes of ultra-productive pass rusher Jared Verse?
During the 2022 season, Verse terrorized opposing offenses with 47 total tackles and nine sacks. The former Albany transfer is looking to showcase that he isn’t just a one-year wonder.
The depth at the defensive end position behind him and redshirt sophomore Patrick Payton isn’t fantastic. But transfer Gilber Edmond (South Carolina), Byron Turner Jr., Jaden Jones, Aaron Hester, and Lamont Green Jr. look to prove that they belong.
The transfer portal has been wonderful to the Seminoles at the defensive end position, where they added an unbelievable prospect in Jermaine Johnson II, who ended up being a first-round draft pick for the New York Jets.
In terms of recruiting, FSU has struck out on some of its targets in the past few cycles, such as Marvin Jones Jr., Nyjalik Kelly, Trevion Williams, and Keldric Faulk.
Unfortunately, the Seminoles missed out on another highly-touted pass rusher in the 2024 cycle as four-star Dylan Stephenson committed to Stanford. It would be ideal for FSU to obtain two defensive ends in this cycle.
One of their top remaining targets officially visited campus this weekend in four-star Daniel “DD” Holmes from Gonzaga High School in Washington, DC.
Holmes had a busy summer official visit schedule where he took trips to Rutgers (June 2-4), South Carolina (June 9-11), and Maryland (June 16-18). However, it looks like he saved the best for last as he took his final official visit to the Seminoles before the dead period.
Holmes wants to make his final decision before his senior season, which seems to be the plan for most of the Seminoles’ uncommitted targets.
The coaching staff is looking to get more momentum in terms of defensive prospects in their recruiting class. Only three of their eleven commitments are on that side of the football.