FSU football: Impact of Ricky Knight III commitment to Noles
By Kelvin Hunt
Need and Validation
There were no question marks about Patrick Surtain Sr.’s ability to develop players. He was a proven player in college and an All-Pro in the NFL.
He coached defensive backs with the Miami Dolphins in the NFL and helped develop his son into a five-star recruit and NFL First-Round Draft selection.
The biggest question mark surrounding Surtain was his recruiting prowess. Sure, he had recruiting experience with his son and interacted with college coaches as the head coach at American Heritage High School. Could he recruit at a high level, though?
Getting a commitment from a player like Ricky Knight III in Miami’s backyard is a great start and the beginning of validation for Surtain Sr. as a recruiter.
Surtain’s time as head coach at American Heritage was part of why folks believed he had the potential to make some noise in South Florida.
Knight is the first cornerback in the class, someone with good length and excellent ball skills.
FSU needs to recruit high-quality defensive backs, and when they can get them from South Florida, that’s even better.