Lost in the pre-game build up of Florida State hosting Notre Dame, coupled with all the Jameis Winston distractions, are the recruiting implications, as it will be a star-studded affair attending this game tomorrow night at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Making official visits to see the Seminoles this weekend are six prospects â quarterback Kai Locksley (Baltimore Gilman), defensive tackle Neville Gallimore(St. Catharines, Ontario/Canadian Prep Football Academy), cornerbacks Tavarus McFadden (Plantation American Heritage) and Kendall Sheffield (Missouri City, Texas/Marshall), and safety Calvin Brewton (Miami Central). Both Locksley and Brewton are committed [for now] while FSU is in hot pursuit of the others.
Meanwhile, truck loads of other big name prospects will be there like running back Jordan Scarlett (Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas), offensive lineman Jalen Merrick (New Smyrna Beach), and defensive end Shelton Johnson (Delray Beach Atlantic). Scarlett is committed to Miami and Florida State would love to turn him away from the Hurricanes. Helping them will be FSU pledges in quarterbackDeAndre Johnson (Jacksonville First Coast), wide receivers Nyquan Murray (Orlando Oakridge), Auden Tate (Tampa Wharton), and George Campbell (Tarpon Springs East Lake) and safeties Derwin James (Haines City) and A J Westbrook (Daytona Beach Mainland).
There will also be a handful of 2016 recruits there and this game could have a bigger impact on these players â five-stars in quarterback Malik Henry (Westlake (Calif.) Village) and Shavar Manuel (Tampa Blake) and a handful of four-stars like running back Tavien Feaster (Spartanburg, S.C.), wide receivers Tavares Chase (Bradenton IMG Academy), Binjimen Victor (Coconut Creek), Sam Bruce (Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas), and Keith Gavin (Crawfordville Wakulla), tight end Isaac Nauta(Buford, Ga.), defensive tackle Cedric Wood (Tallahassee Godby), defensive endsJanarius Robinson (Panama City Bay) and Jordan Woods (Trinity Catholic), cornerbacks Savion Smith (Bradenton IMG Academy), Trayvon Mullen (Coconut Creek), and Levonta Taylor (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes).
It's next year's group of kids that Florida State will likely make more of a good, lasting impression with. You know the 'Noles will be fired up to play the Fighting Irish on national TV on a Saturday Night. They are the reigning champions defending their title and the nation's longest win streak. On top of that Florida State has lost their top ranking in the polls, as Mississippi State has overtaken them. There are many reasons to expect Jimbo Fisher's troops to be all lathered up and ready for Notre Dame.
Texas makes a move in South Florida
Charlie Strong and his Texas Longhorns got busy in Florida this week as they offered seven different defensive backs from South Florida â Shawn Burgess-Becker (Coconut Creek Monarch), Davante Davis (Miami Booker T. Washington),Jaquan Johnson (Miami Killian), Tim Irvin (Miami Westminster), Carlton Davis(Miami Norland), Sheldrick Redwine (Miami Killian) and Ronnie Hoggins (Coconut Creek Monarch).
So why now for coach Charlie Strong and his Longhorns?
I think you have to consider a few things. First, Strong and his staff have grown impatient with some of the other safeties and cornerbacks that they have already offered, meaning they were hoping for another commitment or two at this time. Second, Texas offered Georgia commit Deandre Baker recently and he really does like the Texas program. He has a good and long relationship with Longhorn assistantVance Bedford. In fact, Bedford was with Strong at Louisville and that's when he actually began to start to recruit Baker.
Baker is very intrigued about Texas but doesn't want to go there alone. He's hoping that he can convince one of his South Florida buddies to come with him to Austin, if he indeed decides to pledge to Texas. At this time if you are the Longhorns you just want to get these kids on campus for a visit. That's the real key here. That's going to be harder than it seems because you really fall behind the eight ball these days if you don't get a player on campus before the start of the season. But this is an experienced and aggressive staff. We will see how enticing they can make it when they dangle that official visit to Austin, Texas for this group of Sunshine State standouts.
Meanwhile, the Longhorns are hopeful for a strong defensive back class. They could sign as many as six to seven safeties and cornerbacks. The Longhorns currently have three safety commitments in DeShon Elliot (Rockwall, Texas/Heath), Keivon Ramsey (Converse, Texas/Judson) and Jamile Johnson (Dallas South Oak Cliff). But Ramsey may not be ready to play and contribute next season because he's currently rehabbing an ACL injury.
This could turn into an intriguing development if Texas can get these prospects to make a visit. Don't underestimate Strong here. This guy has an unbelievable track record recruiting the state of Florida.
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