Although fall camp is set to begin shortly for Florida State, the Seminoles are keeping an eye on the future. On July 17, they were able to land four-star safety Ta’Shawn Poole, who chose Florida State over the likes of Georgia and Tennessee.
That was a massive get for Mike Norvell, as Poole was their highest commit for 2027, and he's kept the foot on the gas. On July 22, the Seminoles landed a commitment from edge rusher Meshi Dobson. He even reclassified from 2028 to 2027, which made him a three-star.
Nonetheless, Norvell has turned things up a notch in terms of recruiting. Snagging Dobson is a nice get for the Seminoles and proves that the head coach has some surprises left.
Meshi Dobson's commitment is the latest example of why Florida State isn't a complete disaster
It's no secret that Norvell is coaching for his job in 2026 and needs to produce on the field to show that he's worth keeping around for the long haul. While time will tell if he can fulfill that, having recruits commit for the future of the program is massive.
There are several selling points that Norvell had to hit on, and he clearly did so. Some of those consist of playing time, development plans, and how he will fit into the culture. Dobson believed in those, especially since he decided to move up a class.
That's telling and indicates that he was really sold on whatever Norvell and Florida State were pitching. Considering that Poole will be a chess piece in the secondary for the Seminoles, having Dobson upfront is a solid acquisition.
Dobson is listed at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. He transferred to Cypress Bay for the 2026 season after playing the 2025 campaign at Plantation. During that season, he finished with 72 tackles and 14 sacks.
The fact that Dobson is from Florida played a role in his decision and shows that Norvell can recruit in the state, as he did with three-star tight end Troy Silberzahn.
"Florida State, it's not too far away from home. Like I said, growing up, Florida State has always been a big team to me. I really think I can fit in at that team -- that's where I belong," Dobson said per Zach Blostein of 247Sports.
Not only was proximity a factor, but Dobson called out that edge rushers coach Nick Williams was another driving factor in his decision.
"He's got very good morals and he's not just a coach to me, he's a very good, excellent role model to me. He does his job to look out for me. He sends me film on what I need to be learning and what I need to be doing to get better. He sent me some moves and skills that I never knew."
And this is just the latest example of Norvell's staff playing a critical role in getting a recruit to feel comfortable. Silberzahn also stated that multiple coaches made his decision to become a Seminole easier.
That goes to show that the staff that Norvell has assembled is doing plenty of work behind the scenes. Not only that, but these players believe in the vision for the future of Florida State. While Norvell has to have a sound season in 2026 to keep his job, Dobson's commitment shows he still has some tricks up his sleeve that he will use when needed.
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