Florida State coaches continue to add more official visitors to their summer list as they evaluate more prospects. One area they needed to improve was the defensive front, since only one defensive tackle had scheduled for an official visit, and he hailed from Mississippi, an area that’s not likely to have a top player leave the state.
The Noles secured another official visit from an under-the-radar defensive tackle from Mobile, Alabama, over the past day or so. Fans who don’t follow recruiting closely see that he doesn’t have a star ranking, but the Alabama Crimson Tide being among the first to offer the in-state product tells me all I need to know:
Locked in!!!🍢🍢@Coach_Knighton @Coach_Norvell @CoachDFaulkner @the_coachmentor @247Sports @RivalsHS @On3 @FSUFootball @ScoutFball @McTJacketsFB pic.twitter.com/CczDFQF7bw
— Avrian “AJ” Pauley Jr (@PauleyAvrian) February 23, 2026
Avrian Pauley Jr. plays high school ball just west of the Florida panhandle, over in Alabama. The Crimson Tide was the first Power Four program to offer, followed by Ole Miss and Tennessee. However, only Alabama and FSU secured official visits.
He’ll visit Alabama on May 29th and FSU on June 5th. The latter is shaping up to be a massive recruiting weekend for the Noles. Pauley Jr. will be one of nine players on campus that weekend thus far. He lists at 6'5" and 265 pounds. He'll need time to physically mature and develop, but a great frame to work with.
It’ll probably be a hard pull if Alabama really wants him, as those players tend to stay in-state and go there or to Auburn. Ask FSU how that worked out with a top guy like Keldric Faulk. At least FSU defensive tackle coach Terrance Knighton is showing some signs of life on the recruiting trails, though. He’ll need to continue to work to secure more quality targets with both defensive tackle prospects hailing from out of state thus far.