FSU football: 5-star DE Zion Grady visiting the Noles this weekend

FSU football has generated buzz with its transfer portal acquisitions and 2024 recruiting class. However, with the Seminoles having the majority of its prospects in place, attention can be focused on the 2025 recruiting class.

As I alluded to in a previous article, Florida State has consistently been sniping a variety of prospects via the transfer portal and recruiting ranks since legendary head football coach Nick Saban unexpectedly retired.

The Seminoles are now in consideration for Class of 2025 five-star wide receiver Jaime Ffrench from Mandarin High School in Jacksonville (FL), who decommitted from the Crimson Tide recently.

The news just keeps getting better for Florida State and its coaching staff as 247Sports reported that Class of 2025 five-star Alabama defensive end commit Zion Grady from Charles Henderson High School in Troy (AL) will be visiting the Seminoles this weekend. The talented defender recently transferred to Enterprise High School in Enterprise (AL).

Even though teams such as Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia were in the mix for his services, Grady has always had a mutual interest with the Florida State Seminoles. He last visited Tallahassee when the Seminoles took on the Syracuse Orange in Doak Campbell Stadium.

The need to add capable pass rushers has always a need that has been emphasized by the fan base, especially considering how defensive ends such as Patrick Payton, Jared Verse, Jermaine Johnson II, and Keir Thomas have panned out. However, the Seminoles need to do a better job in being able to land talented pieces at the defensive end position without having to rely solely on the transfer portal.

While I understand that the transfer portal is needed to fill holes at positions of need with, often, veteran talent, it should not be utilized as a sole method to gain production from the defensive end position. The Seminoles developed Class of 2021 four-star Patrick Payton who looks to be blossoming as a defender.

However, Florida State only has one defensive end committed to their 2024 recruiting class in four-star DD Holmes (could be two if the Seminoles find a way to land four-star Amarre Williams). This is becoming a very important 2025 cycle for the coaching staff to acquire talent for the future foundation of the program.