FSU football had one of the top signal callers in the 2026 class committed when Brady Smigiel chose the Noles in the summer of 2024.
However, after a 2-10 season and a change at offensive coordinator, Smigiel announced his de-commitment a few weeks ago.
FSU didn't waste any time offering new 2026 blue-chip quarterback targets, including Alabama product Landon Duckworth.
The former South Carolina commit has ascended the recruiting rankings, receiving several offers over the past couple of months, including FSU on January 26th.
That was the same day Brady Smigiel decommitted, and FSU has been working to secure a visit.
The latest looks like FSU is battling several SEC programs for his commitment:
4-star QB Landon Duckworth is focusing on a select group of schools and plans to take official visits to four of them, he tells @ChadSimmons_👀
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) February 10, 2025
Read: https://t.co/JlzlDjzNEm pic.twitter.com/cGUoCsGJyL
Duckworth camped at FSU in the summer of 2023, so he has a relationship with Mike Norvell and Tony Tokarz. However, he also has a relationship with new FSU offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.
Duckworth visited UCF in January 2024 and had a crystal ball prediction favoring the UCF Knights, while Malzahn was the head coach.
However, Duckworth decided to take his time with his next commitment as he entered his junior year and began to get more publicity.
He's the No. 92 player and No. 7 quarterback nationally, which is only two spots behind Smigiel at No. 5. Though, Duckworth looks like he fits what Gus Malzahn wants to do on offense much better.
Duckworth's production exploded in his junior season, amassing 3,439 passing yards and 39 touchdowns, completing 66 percent of his passes. That was an improvement from a 60 percent completion rate, 27 touchdowns, and 1,971 passing yards as a sophomore.
His rushing yardage nearly doubled from his sophomore season to 648 yards and 12 touchdowns on 62 carries.
Duckworth said FSU is one of the main schools recruiting him, and it's one of the schools he plans to officially visit. That date hasn't been set yet, so we'll have to see if that transpires. It would be great if FSU could get him on campus this spring before he takes official visits later this year.
If they don't get him on campus this spring, I'd say FSU probably is on the outside looking in with that recruitment.