FSU is still looking for at least one more piece in its defensive line recruiting class and Earnest Rankins, a four-star prospect from Decatur, Georgia could be the perfect fit. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound lineman looks like he could play in several positions on the line in Tony White's 3-3-5 defensive scheme.
Rankins took his official visit to Tallahassee on June 6 and while his visit might not have gotten a lot of fanfare at the time, he put FSU in his top four and spoke highly of his time in Talahassee to Chris Nee at 247Sports.
"It is just something about the team," Rankins said to Nee on June 8. "I've been around all the teams a couple times, the players, and it is something that stands out."
Rankins doesn't do much with his social media and hasn't updated his X account in nearly two months, so it's hard to know which way he is leaning. It appears that Ohio State and Georgia are not currently in the picture and, barring any major changes in the next 72 hours, his announcement will come down to Auburn and Florida State. Rankins has been primarily recruited by defensive line coach Terrance Knighton.
Blessed to receive a offer from Florida state University @Coach_Knighton #AGTG pic.twitter.com/kMEMCdfNaQ
— Earnest Rankins (@bigearnest54) January 27, 2025
If FSU can land Rankins, it would be another surprise in what's already been considered one of the best recruiting classes in the Mike Norvell era. Late last week, FSU beat out Miami for slot receiver Jasen Lopez from powerhouse program Chaminade-Madonna.
This is also the kind of recruitment that FSU has to win to turn things around. At one point, Rankins was considered a take for top recruiting programs like Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama and Texas. As those schools pile up on elite prospects, some prospects will fall through the cracks. This is the area in recruiting where FSU needs to live until the record on the field improves.
Rankins is expected to make his announcement on July 3.