Elite prospect trending away from FSU despite recent recruiting run of commits

FSU football coaches got the final official visit with five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin, but it doesn't look like the Noles did enough to secure his commitment.

Griffin will announce his decision on Sunday, June 29th, and the Alabama Crimson Tide has gotten several predictions to land the elite linebacker.

Griffin officially visited Ohio State on May 30th, Alabama on June 6th, Texas on June 13th, and FSU on June 20th.

Some folks believed FSU was truly in the mix after his official visit, but that confidence seems to be fading the farther we get away from that visit weekend.

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Griffin hails from Gainesville, GA, and ranks as the No. 27 player nationally and No. 2 linebacker. He's considered the No. 4 linebacker in the Peach State. Tuscaloosa is about an hour closer than Tallahassee, and Alabama has been the better program lately.

If Griffin picks the Crimson Tide on Sunday, FSU will still have a shot to make an impression when the Noles host Alabama in the 2025 season opener in Tallahassee. FSU has two talented linebackers committed, and Griffin would be only the first blue-chip commit. He'd also be the first five-star commit, as FSU has 13 of 20 composite four-star commits for a 65 percent blue-chip ratio.

FSU coaches have been on a recruiting heater in June, landing 12 of their 20 commitments this month. It's the most commits FSU has had at this time of year in the Mike Norvell era.

If they miss on Griffin, they are still in the miss for a couple of four-star linebackers like Rodney Colton Jr. and Duyon Forkpa Jr. Both are good players, but Griffin is a player who could make an impact in year one.

FSU coaches have pulled some surprises before, so I'm not going to say it's over until it's over. However, it looks like FSU will have to wait to add that elusive five-star to this class.