![New Gator head football coach Jon Sumrall fires up the crowd during the first half an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, January 24, 2026. Auburn won 76-67 [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_202,w_2593,h_1458/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/270/01kjgc3c8cdh584n468y.jpg "New Gator head football coach Jon Sumrall fires up the crowd during the first half an NCAA basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, January 24, 2026. Auburn won 76-67 [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
Florida State football's 2027 recruiting class only has five commitments. This is understandable, given that the program only has seven wins in two years. This is not the standard for the Seminoles, who are used to competing for championships.
However, the fan base knows that this is a pivotal 2026 season for Florida State after the administration decided to bring back the head coach Mike Norvell. The program hasn't found sustainable success as it has recorded four losing seasons in six years of his tenure.
It shouldn't be doom and gloom in Tallahassee because the opportunity is right in front of them to be successful. After offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn surprisingly retired this offseason, Norvell will be tasked with playcalling duties once again. The fate of the offense is in his hands, and he probably wants it that way.
One positive that fans can point to from last season is that Coach Norvell utilized more high school prospects. There seemed to be an over-reliance on transfers that they grabbed from the portal. However, the 2025 class played more significant snaps, which should attract more high-quality talent in the 2027 class.
Four-star wide receiver Anthony Jennings could be someone to monitor in the 2027 class
Florida State wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr. recently got the promotion to offensive coordinator. If we are being honest, Harris Jr. has been amazing on the recruiting trail. The position group that he is managing this year will include Duce Robinson, Micahi Danzy, and Jayvan Boggs from last year.
However, fans shouldn't forget about talented pieces from the 2026 cycle that could play a bigger role, such as Devin Carter, Jasen Lopez, Darryon Williams, EJ White, Jonah Winston, and Brandon Bennett. If some of them contribute in 2026, it should raise their chances with current high schoolers.
Four-star wide receiver Jabari Watkins from Thomasville, Georgia, has been someone the Seminoles have been leading in his recruitment for a while. Still, a name many don't realize Florida State has a good chance with is four-star Anthony Jennings from Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Jennings has scheduled an official visit with the Seminoles for the weekend of June 19th. He also has trips to Georgia (May 29), Florida (June 5), and Auburn (Jun 12), so the competition for his services is there. It helps that the Seminoles get to potentially have the last laugh.
The South Florida product is considered a top-250 prospect, according to the 2027 247Sports Composite rankings. He had 34 receptions for 823 yards and 11 touchdowns during his junior season of high school (according to MaxPreps).
The arch-rival Florida Gators seem to be the most concerning team in his recruitment, and the coaching staff cannot allow a first-year head coach, Jon Sumrall, to acquire his services.