Days after the 34-7 win over Central Arkansas, 2027 class three-star tight end Connor Winn announced he would be backing away from his commitment to Florida State. Winn did not provide a reason in his announcement, but the decision comes right in the middle of intensifying talks regarding Mike Norvell's future with the Seminoles.
The recruiting ability of Norvell might be something that has been questioned in the past, but there is no denying that most of the current crop of 2027 class commitments are closely tied to the coach.
Florida State may have a growing problem on its hands, and while there is not exactly a recipe to fully rectify the situation, winning games is the easiest short-term path to retaining the current class of commitments. With tough games against Virginia, Louisville, Miami, and Clemson looming on the schedule, Winn could just be the first of many recruits set to depart the Seminoles' current class.
Here are a few players who could back away from their Florida State pledges if things get uglier in Tallahassee.
1. DB Za'Kari Johnson
At this point, it is difficult to truly consider Johnson to be a Florida State commitment, given his growing connection to opposing programs. The four-star athlete reclassified into the 2027 class from the 2028 class months ago before joining Florida State as a promising piece of the future of the secondary.
Programs like Texas A&M, Miami, and Auburn have all been fighting to pick up the commitment flip, but Johnson has not budged yet. Johnson previously expressed his interest in Miami ahead of a visit, and the thing likely holding back the flip is the Hurricanes' stacked 2027 class. Johnson is in line to compete for time on the field early with Florida State, and not many of the interested programs can make that same offer.
The clash between Florida State and Virginia this weekend is going to be critical in the battle to keep Johnson, as the talented recruit will be in Tallahassee. A bad showing against the Cavaliers could lead to Johnson dropping his commitment.
2. S Jernard Albright
Once a South Carolina commitment, Florida State pushed hard in June to complete the flip of Jernard Albright, a three-star safety from Georgia. Since completing the flip, Albright has been firm in his commitment to the Seminoles, but other options have begun to appear.
The Gamecocks never truly went away, and South Carolina is still considered to be a team that is interested in Albright. With potential changes coming to the coaching staff, the real program to worry about has become Florida. Albright was in Gainesville for the 52-28 Gators' win over No. 4 Ole Miss while Florida State scored 34 points against FCS Central Arkansas.
Albright flipped his commitment once before after thinking the grass would be greener, but with things starting to dry up in Tallahassee, joining forces with the Gators seems more likely.
3. DL Sam LeJeune
There are a few commitments that have remained strong so far, but with rumors of potential staff changes swirling around, the idea of losing them has become more realistic. A month ago, the idea of losing four-star defensive line commitment Sam LeJeune did not seem possible, given his connection to Norvell.
However, without Norvell in the picture, which is a growing possibility, LeJeune would likely be one of the first commitments to go.
LeJeune has received plenty of praise for his recent accomplishments on the field, and Florida State was not the only program to notice. Mississippi State has been making a push for the talented in-state recruit, and should things go sideways in Tallahassee, LeJeune may not leave the state of Mississippi.
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