FSU RECRUITING OUTLOOK
Our own Kelvin Hunt wrote about how he thought about the Seminoles' 2026 recruiting class as we are in the middle of July, so I won't delve too much into the topic to spare some time (check it out by clicking here).
The truth of the matter is that Florida State ranks as the 15th-best recruiting class, according to 247Sports Composite. This isn't a standard that the fanbase wants because it expects to be competing for conference and national championships.
The Seminoles had a rough weekend in recruiting as several of their highly-touted targeted prospects went elsewhere, such as four-star tight end Heze Kent (Florida), four-star tight end Landen Miree (Arizona State), four-star linebacker Rodney Colton Jr. (Colorado), four-star defensive back Samari Matthews (Texas), and three-star defensive end Katrell Webb (Purdue).
HOW WILL FSU RESPOND?
The past year and a half for the Seminoles has been brutal. It all started with the Jordan Travis injury, then the College Football snub, and lastly the 2-10 season in 2024. Florida State cannot seem to catch a break.
History tells us that Florida State football will eventually bounce back. I realize that the fan base has grown accustomed to the success of our recruiting efforts in June, where we were securing commitments left and right. However, the reality is that these highly-touted prospects want to see Florida State perform in the fall.
With that said, I expect them to do well on the gridiron, and I love the recruiting class that head football coach Mike Norvell and the coaching staff have constructed. However, I know there are holes to fill. What prospect will be the next to commit to Florida State?
I believe that it will be four-star offensive tackle Wilson Zierer from Rabun Gap, Georgia, who will be deciding between Florida State, Auburn, and Alabama. He doesn't have an announcement date, but there is a belief that it will happen sooner rather than later.
I realize that Zierer is an Auburn legacy, but there is a quiet confidence surrounding the Seminoles as they hope to get their first offensive tackle in the recruiting class. They need to emphasize the trenches in this cycle. This would be a great way to respond to the failure of this past weekend.