FSU makes the cut as one of the four finalists for top LB target

Linebacker Duyon Forkpa has been on FSU's radar for over a year, and the Seminoles will have a hat on the table when the 6-foot, 225-pound prospect makes his official announcement on July 12.

Forkpa, who started playing high school football in Georgia, before transferring to IMG Academy, disclosed his final four schools during an interview with Josh Newberg of On3. He said FSU, Florida, Miami and Michigan have made the final cut.

The Gwinnett County, Georgia native took his official visit to FSU on June 6 and has visited the campus numerous times over the past year. After his official visit, Forkpa told Chris Nee of 247Sports that FSU was his leader, but he didn't commit.

"No, I didn't make a decision, but I think I'm ready to be a 'Nole," Forkpa told Nee at the time.

Forkpa said that he's been in contact with staffers from FSU for at least a year and when the new defensive coaches were hired in the winter, they quickly reached out to him. The Seminoles staff has had Forkpa as their top linebacker target with Florida expected to be the biggest competition.

"Ever since they started recruiting me, like last year in July, I was able to build a very strong connection with Coach Norvell and the whole staff," Forkpa said. "Unfortunately, they're not there anymore. But when that new staff got hired, I was like the first person they reached out to and that just goes to show their loyalty throughout the whole process. "

Forkpa spoke glowingly about all four programs, listing his reasons for considering each of them, but it seems clear that the Gators have also made a big impression on him and they appear to be on par with FSU, if not ahead, in his recruitment. The linebacker specifically mentioned that the Gators coaching staff is the one he feels most connected to, but he'll be keeping an eye on how the defense under Gators first-year linebackers coach Robert Bala.

"I'll be evaluating Florida because they have a new linebackers coach, so I'm going to be seeing how the linebackers play and all the things they talk about that they're going to do for the linebackers," Forkpa said. "All the drills that they're doing. I want to see them be implemented in a real game."