2012 National Signing Day: Why Ronald Darby Needs to Choose Florida State

My mother used to tell me not to put all of my eggs in one basket. If Ronald Darby is smart, he'll take my mother's advice and choose Florida State.

What am I talking about, you ask?

Here's what I'm talking about: The 4-star cornerback is one of the fastest recruits in the country and is expected to also run track in college. And Florida State has one of the finest track programs in the country.

This is a marriage made in heaven.

For Darby, there is simply no guarantee that football will work out. You just never know how recruits will translate at the next level. But speed is speed, and Darby has an opportunity to have a successful track career—he should be pursuing that at a top-notch institution.

Consider the following, from Jon Mahoney of ESPN:

"

Also an elite sprinter, Darby snagged Maryland Class 3A state outdoor crowns last spring in the 100 and 200 and on the 4x100 and 4x200 relays and was named the Gatorade State Track & Field Athlete of the Year. In July, he led the Team USA medley relay to a gold medal and a World Youth record (1:49.47) at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille, France.

“Ronald is one of the most talented athletes that I’ve ever coached,” says Potomac track coach Stan Mullins, who’s coached track for more than 40 years.

"

Oh, and Florida State is still one of the premier college football institutions in the country as well, even if the school has seen some lean years in recent memory. A strong recruiting class this year, which the Seminoles look to be compiling, will go a long way toward changing that.

For Darby, there isn't much to dislike about Florida State. As my mother would say, spread those eggs around, Ronald.

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