FSU football: Five-star DE target included FSU in top schools list

FSU football has successfully made positive strides as a program after achieving a 10-win season last year, including victories over LSU and arch-rivals Miami and Florida.

The Seminoles have built upon that momentum from 2022 and started the 2023 season off on the right foot, with a 2-0 record with victories over LSU and Southern Miss.

This momentum directly impacts the coaching staff’s recruiting efforts because they can showcase their elite play on the field. In the past, the football program has struggled with sustainability after suffering four straight losing seasons from 2018-2021.

However, head football coach Mike Norvell has the program headed in the right direction and has a variety of highly-touted prospects interested in the Seminoles.

Currently, FSU football ranks No. 6 in the 2024 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings, with 21 prospects committed to the program.

The coaching staff isn’t just worried about recruiting for the 2024 recruiting cycle. They have placed an emphasis on starting earlier in the process for 2025 and 2026 prospects.

The Seminoles have two prospects committed to their 2025 recruiting class in four-star quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. from Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Florida, and three-star wide receiver DL Hardison from Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida.

FSU is far from finished with acquiring high-quality talent in its recruiting class. One position that the Seminoles will likely want to prioritize in this cycle is defensive end due to a player like redshirt junior Jared Verse potentially leaving for the NFL after this season. Impactful pass rushers are difficult to come by in today’s recruiting landscape.

Class of 2025 five-star defensive end target Armondo Blount from Miami Central High School in Miami, Florida, has included Florida State in his top five schools list.

The other schools associated with his schools list are Oklahoma, Miami, Ohio State, and USC.

Blount recorded 30 tackles for loss and 16 sacks for Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida last season. He transferred to Miami Central High School for the 2023 season.

The talented defensive end recently visited for the Seminoles’ matchup against the LSU Tigers on September 3rd. However, the nearby Miami Hurricanes are also involved in his recruitment, where he unofficially visited them during their victory over Texas A&M last week.