FSU RECRUITING OUTLOOK
Florida State football has the 23rd-best recruiting class in the 2026 cycle. It is only the beginning, as the Seminoles have several official visitors prepared to come to campus during June. The coaching staff wants to make a big splash this summer.
Florida State wants to have a more productive season than it did in 2024, as it limped to the finish line with a 2-10 record. It was difficult to watch the Seminoles' program, which was so used to competing for conference championships, struggle the way that it did.
However, what happened did occur, so we cannot turn back the clock and fix what went on. The coaching staff will now try to ensure that it never happens again. One effective method is to acquire talent in the transfer portal and the high school recruiting ranks.
SNEAKY PROSPECT TO MONITOR
Florida State has one linebacker prospect that they have committed in its 2026 recruiting class with four-star Karon Maycock from Miami, Florida. They are very impressed with his skill set and want to keep him in the fold.
However, I am willing to think that they would like to acquire more in the position. One name that I realize they have at the top of their target board is five-star Xavier Griffin from Gainesville, Georgia, who just de-committed from the USC Trojans.
However, Griffin could be a pipeline dream with the home-state Georgia Bulldogs involved in his recruitment. With that being said, I want to turn fans' attention to someone sneaky at the position that I believe they should offer: Three-star linebacker Michael McClenton.
MICHAEL MCCLENTON?
Class of 2026 three-star linebacker Michael McClenton from Ocoee, Florida, recently backed off of his pledge with the UCF Knights. Don't get any good ideas, he was not committed while former head football coach Gus Malzahn was with the Knights.
However, he still someone that I believe the coaching staff should look at. The 6'0", 225-pound defender had 219 tackles (46 for loss) and 19 sacks last season. That type of production could indicate that other schools could get involved.
I believe the only reason that other big schools haven't gotten involved is because of his 6'0" frame, but I think that the Seminoles could at least keep him on the back burner with an offer and see how his body and skill set progress throughout his senior year.