By BOB FERRANTE
FOXSportsFlorida.com Contributor
Jan. 10, 2011
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Eight football players have enrolled early at Florida State for the spring semester, including four-star high school tailback Devonta Freeman and cornerback Nick Waisome.
Junior-college defensive end Cornellius Carradine and offensive lineman Jacob Fahrenkrug are among a group that also includes high school linebacker Terrance Smith and high school offensive linemen Sterling Lovelady, Trey Pettis and Jordan Prestwood.
All will get an early jump in both the classroom and will participate in spring practice when the Seminoles hit the field again in March.
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher was able to double the number of early enrollees from 2010. Linebacker Jeff Luc, defensive tackle Anthony McCloud, running back Debrale Smiley and quarterback Clint Trickett all enrolled in January 2010.
"When kids come in early, academically they get a jump," Fisher said in December. "They get hours in (the spring semester). They get summer school.
"They get to know what's going on in spring (football). Then they get the whole summer of conditioning and workouts. So from that standpoint, it definitely is better."
And the Seminoles won't have to wait on pins and needles to know that the six high school players are coming to Tallahassee. Although most high school football players will wait until national signing day on Feb. 2, early enrollment is a growing trend.
The majority of Fisher's 2010 signing class saw playing time as freshman. The 2011 group of early enrollees could also have an impact in 2011.
Freeman ran for 308 yards and had a combined three touchdowns as Miami Central won the Class 6A title over Orlando Dr. Phillips in December. He ran for 2,200 yards and 26 TDs his senior season.
"He has really quick feet and runs hard in the hole," said Geoff Vogt, who covers recruiting in Florida for Scout.com.
Waisome had made a verbal commitment to Florida but switched to FSU. He is known as an exceptional lock-down corner and had five pass breakups and three tackles in the Under Armour All-America Game last week.
Carradine, considered the nation's top juco defensive end, had 16 sacks in 2010 and a total of 26 at Butler County (Kan.) Community College. He prefers the nickname "Tank," and with his athleticism and 6-foot 5, 245-pound frame is a tough challenge for offensive tackles.
Florida State needs to replace center Ryan McMahon and guard Rodney Hudson in 2011, so having Fahrenkrug and three freshmen enroll early will give them a chance to learn from line coach Rick Trickett and compete for playing time in the fall.
