Florida State Football Recruiting: Latest News and Notes from the Trail

Jimbo Fisher and FSU were able to jump start their future recruiting classes after picking up commitments from a trio of recruits that have yet to start their junior year in high school.
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The second summer edition of the Jimbo Fisher Camp wrapped up this week, and it provided the Seminoles coaching staff with their final opportunity to focus on recruiting before they begin preparations for the 2012 season. 

Several big-time 2013 prospects made their way to Tallahassee for the camp, plus with the majority of the current class all but wrapped up (FSU has 17 commitments), Fisher and his staff were able to concentrate on building a foundation for the 2014 and 2015 cycles.   

The session proved to be fruitful for the Seminoles, with positive reviews flowing from the top 2013 targets and a pair of commitments for future classes—plus a pledge from a 2014 athlete who was not present in Tallahassee this week. 

However, Fisher did lose the pledge of a talented in-state defender.  

Get caught up on all of the latest news and notes for FSU recruiting inside. 

FSU Loses DT Commit

DT Maquedius Bain Highlights

To say that the recruitment of University School (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) defensive tackle Maquedius Bain has been a tumultuous one would be a mild statement.  

A 4-star defensive tackle, Bain had been committed to the Seminoles since last November, but he officially decommitted this week on the heels of naming a top five that omitted the Seminoles.   

Bain's commitment had been anything but solid. The 6'3", 308-pounder made numerous visits to Miami and recently named a top five list that excluded FSU despite being committed to the Seminoles.  

His concern over the Noles' stacked depth chart led to him reopening his recruiting process. 

Noles Gain 2014 Pair, Plus One for 2015

2015 QB Deandre Johnson Highlights

While Fisher lost one recruit, he was able to gain a trio of commitments from prep stars who are still underclassmen at the high school level.  

On Thursday, Northwestern High School (Miami, Fla.) ATH Jojo Robinson committed to FSU despite failing to make the trip up for Fisher's camp, per Corey Dowlar of ESPN.  

One day later, Fisher was able to secure a commitment from one of the nation's top receivers in the Class of 2014: Coral Reef Senior's (Miami, Fla.) Jacob McCrary, rated as the nation's fourth-best wideout in the 2014 class by 247Sports. 

Robinson and McCrary bring the total pledges for the 2014 class to four, joining Miami Central running back Joseph Yearby and Immokalee (Immokalee, Fla.) wide receiver J.C. Jackson. 

And not to be outdone, per the Orlando Sentinel Fisher landed a verbal pledge from First Coast (Jacksonville, Fla.) quarterback De'Andre Johnson, who led the Buccaneers to a Class 7A state title game appearance as a freshman.  

Johnson joins Auburndale (Auburndale, Fla.) ATH Derwin James as the second commit for the 2015 class.

Top 2013 Talent Gathers in Tallahassee

2013 OLB Matthew Thomas Highlights

The Seminoles' 2013 class is currently ranked among the Top 15 classes in the country; ESPN has them at eighth, while Rivals and 247Sports both have FSU at 12th.

But when compared to classes from the last three years, it does not measure up in terms of star power—at least not yet. 

This week, FSU welcomed several impact players who are rated by most services as top 100 players nationally.  

Booker T. Washington (Miami, Fla.) outside linebacker Matthew Thomas—who is rated as a 5-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals—highlights the list. 

Other notable names in attendance include Immokalee (Immokalee, Fla.) corner MacKensie Alexander, University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.) defensive end Tim Williams, Hillsborough (Tampa, Fla.) defensive end Jordan Sherit, South Plantation (Plantation, Fla.) running back Alex Collins and Northeast (Oakland Park, Fla.) wide receiver Stacy Coley. 

What Lies Ahead

B/R Full Ride Spotlight on WR Stacy Coley

With limited spots left and several big-name players left on the board, Fisher's ability to close with a number of players from that group will ultimately be the measure by which the 2013 class is judged.  

Per Josh Newberg of Noles247, Thomas left Tallahassee with the Seminoles sitting on the top of his leaderboard.  

The early work securing the majority of their 2013 class means that Seminoles have the luxury of placing added attention on their top remaining targets. If they can capitalize on their current momentum by following up with a monster season on the field in 2012, chances are that supporters of the Garnet and Gold will once again wake up happy when national signing day rolls around. 

 

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