Florida State Football Recruiting: 7 Freshmen to Watch for Seminoles in 2012

Florida State is projected to have one of the top recruiting classes of 2012 with all the talent they are bringing in. With two 5-star recruits and nine 4-star recruits, Jimbo Fisher is making sure that this program is set up for years to come. 

It is hard to pick out the best in this class, largely because they have so much talent. Some of the kids in this class can really push the current FSU starters and make them compete for their jobs. A couple of them flew under the radar for a long time. A few were absolute steals for FSU. It is a very nice mix of great offensive and defensive players.

Here are the seven recruits that can and will have an impact on the field for FSU in 2012.

Jameis Winston

Considered by many to be the top-ranked QB in the class, Jameis Winston is an absolute gem. There is a reason he is being compared to Cam Newton. This kid can make huge plays by both passing and running. 

Winston stands at 6'4" and 190 pounds with a dual-threat capability that is rarely seen so polished in recruits. Winston doesn't seem to have a weak point besides accuracy, which can be easily fixed with some good coaching and practice.

E.J. Manuel is the automatic starter for the Seminoles in 2012, but don't think that Winston won't be talked about in the lineup. I don't think that Fisher will redshirt Winston because he knows this kid has special talent. He is honestly too good to be kept off the field.

While he may see most action in the fourth quarter (assuming Manuel doesn't get injured), he will make the most of it. It will be one of the first comprehensive looks at mini-Cam Newton.

Mario Edwards Jr.

The 5-star defensive end was a huge commitment for the 'Noles that gave them a signature recruit. He is viewed as being the best DE in the country and the fourth-best recruit as a whole. It's not hard to see why. Edwards has NFL talent.

While he is listed as 6'4" and 275 pounds, you would think he is no more than 250 with the speed he has. There is no stopping him from getting into the backfield when the ball is snapped. He has a keen sense of what to do and what moves to pull. He regularly gets by offensive linemen with ease and swiftness usually only seen in NFL starters.

Another upside to Edwards is that he is described as a leader by his team and coaches. Not hard to imagine considering he knows what the offense will do before they even snap the ball. He will be bringing some major talent and leadership to Tallahassee in 2012.

It is certainly possible that Edwards could compete with Brandon Jenkins or Bjoern Werner for the start at the DE position. Even if he doesn't win out, I would expect him to split time with one of them.

Chris Casher

Another defensive end that could make an immediate impact for the Seminoles. Some say that he is athletic enough to play tight end, but he knows his part of the field is on the defensive line. His commitment to FSU was a shock to a lot of people, especially Alabama fans that thought they had him in the bag.

Chris Casher comes in at 6'4", 250 pounds and all the speed to prove it. He has definitely become more aggressive on the line. He was about 218 pounds last year and then decided to bulk up. Ever since then, he has become a force to be reckoned with against the run, recording 19 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks.

The athleticism and work ethic is what really sells Casher as a hot prospect. As mentioned before, he can also play tight end with great efficiency. His teammates describe him as being a great leader with almost coach-like qualities. Casher studied the DE position and made sure he knew what he needed to improve on.

Casher will probably not start at DE for the 'Noles, but will get a considerable amount of play time. He still needs to improve a little more, but can easily reach the starting position in a year.

Watch out for this one. He might fly under the radar for a while. That is, until he starts sacking the best of the college QBs.

Dante Fowler Jr.

How this kid ever got knocked down from a 5-star is beyond me. He is another DE (the third and final one) with great speed and considerably more power than his counterparts. He is ranked the No. 2 DE in the nation, meaning the Seminoles may have the No. 1 and 2 defensive ends line up with each other at some point in the future.

Fowler is 6'3" and 232 pounds, but will be sure to bulk up when he comes to FSU. He doesn't even look that much like a DE, but word is he certainly tackles like it. Fowler doesn't have many weaknesses on the field, but his off-the-field actions raise some questions.

He was suspended three games for mouthing off to coaches and got that coveted star taken away from him after inconsistency. Fowler was up to the task though, and corrected his attitude and play on the field. He was back to his normal self by the end of the season and will be going to FSU on a high note. 

The word is that Fowler is both stronger and faster than current starter Brandon Jenkins. If this is true, then Jenkins might be in for some competition this season. Fowler might also be another DE that splits time with starters to get some experience. He could certainly be popping up a lot though in the coming years.

P.J. Williams

This may shock some people as to why D.J. Williams is here, but have no doubt: This kid can play. He was so good and showed so much potential as a safety and corner that Mark Stoops provided him with a scholarship as a sophomore. Stoops could say nothing but good things about Williams, so you know he has to have seen something in this recruit.

Williams measures 6'1" and 200 pounds. He will need to bulk up before he comes to FSU, but he is already working on that. He is an athletic player that can be both a shutdown corner and ball-hawking safety. He is a fast and observant athlete that knows where the play will develop, and shuts it down.

One of the big things with Williams is that he has a great playmaking ability. His highlight reel is a compilation of crazy interceptions and incredible play-stopping deflections. He just knows where the ball is and can focus in on it.

Williams has a low chance of starting with both Greg Reid and Xavier Rhodes returning for their senior seasons. He does have room to learn about things like leadership, which will become essential for the Seminoles in later years. The secondary will be full of youth, and Williams will need to be that leader. 

Dalvon Stuckey

Dalvon Stuckey is a defensive tackle that will fit very nicely at FSU from the day he steps on the field. He is a big guy that fills up the holes in the middle of the line, and can stop the run with force and effect. He is certainly an underrated player that needs to get more attention than he has. 

At 6'4" and 300 pounds, Stuckey is a huge force on the D-line, especially against the run. He has incredible speed for a DT, running a 4.9-second 40-yard dash. This amazing speed and power have earned him special looks from both his teammates and coaches. He will fit very well on FSU's defensive line.

He was very eager to become a 'Nole, as evidenced by his commitment two weeks into the regular season. Stuckey has told Tomahawk Nation that being a Seminole was his "dream offer" and is a solid verbal commit. He is very excited to be joining the Seminoles and will give his all for this program. 

I'm not sure on whether or not current starting tackle Timmy Jernigan will keep his spot after beating out Odell Haggins. FSU could certainly rotate all three of the tackles, but I like Stuckey for this one. I think he gets a lot of playtime and makes his presence felt in the FSU defense.

Mario Pender

I knew from the day that Mario Pender committed that he would be the biggest steal FSU has had in years. I have seen very few running backs with as balanced of a skill set as Pender. There aren't enough stats or videos to fully show how good of a RB this guy can be.

Pender has an ideal height of 6'0" and weight of 190 pounds. He is a force to be reckoned with in the running game, and will surely cause defenses trouble. He lit up the ground at his high school, rushing for 13 touchdowns and nearly 17 yards per carry. 

Perhaps the best thing Pender has going for him is the balance he possesses. He has speed, power and quickness all in one. Pender beats guys by running past them, smashing through them or juking them out of their cleats. He also has a great sense of humility, often crediting his offensive line and coaches for helping him succeed and do so well.

I said it once and I'll say it again: The FSU backfield is deeper than abstract art. James Wilder Jr., Chris Thompson (maybe), Devonta Freeman and Mario Pender—I cannot see the 'Noles running game suffering any lack in progress whatsoever. While Pender would start in most cases, I think he splits carries with all the mention RBs. But sooner or later, Jimbo Fisher will see that this kid is too good to not be the primary running back. 

There is one thing that FSU is never missing. That thing is talent, and the 2012 class has a lot of it.