FSU football: Impact of 5-star Charles Lester III commitment

Impact

From a perception standpoint, it was big to beat Deion Sanders in this recruiting battle, although I have doubts it was really a battle.

I think this was a case of a high-profile player that gushed about a school (FSU) over and over, and folks figured he was a lock to commit at some point. That’s not any fun for a high-profile recruit, so he found ways to make it interesting before committing to the school he openly said he almost committed to in April.

Maybe FSU football fans won’t freak out for no reason if another similar situation arises. As I mentioned, FSU’s in a much different place than back then, and I don’t see FSU losing another one to Deion like that.

Also, Lester committed while some major targets were at FSU. Jamari Howard, the No. 109 player and No. 11 cornerback nationally, and five-star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith were on campus. FSU needs to land another big-time cornerback, and Howard is likely the No. 1 target. Smith is an Ohio State commit and will likely go there unless Brian Hartline goes elsewhere.

Either way, it’s good to acquire top guys with more top guys on campus. Lester is the No. 4 ranked player in the Sunshine State, so it’s great to see an in-state guy choose the Noles.

FSU will likely lose 1-2 cornerbacks to the NFL Draft next year, so landing top talent with a chance to play early is important. This addition is also big for first year coach Patrick Surtain.

Surtain making recruiting waves early in his career was something most thought was possible, so it’s good to see that risk rewarded, and landing Howard would already establish him as one of the better recruiters on the staff.