Garnet and Gold bound...Who are the attainable FSU football targets deciding in July?

These 2026 recruiting targets could be attainable for the Florida State Seminoles.
FSU football players and coaches walk into the first spring practice of the spring season on Wednesday, March 19, 2025
FSU football players and coaches walk into the first spring practice of the spring season on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | Liam Rooney/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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DT EARNEST RANKINS

Florida State defensive line coach Terrance Knighton has started to assemble a quality defensive line class for the Seminoles during the 2026 cycle as he secured the commitments of four-star James Carrington, four-star Tico Crittendon, and three-star Wihtlley Cadeau.

I like all of the pickups, but I know that the Seminoles need to continue emphasizing the offensive and defensive trenches if they want to be successful on the gridiron. Coach Knighton has a history of developing solid defenders, but he will need to acquire more young talent for the core.

Four-star defensive lineman Earnest Rankins from Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, Georgia, will be making his decision on July 3rd. It looks like it will be between the two schools that he took official visits to: Florida State and Auburn.

The 6'6" and 285-pound defender had a crystal ball prediction in favor of the Georgia Bulldogs that was put in during February, but it doesn't look like the program is showing mutual interest.