Mario Edwards: 5-Star Stud Will Lead Major Resurgence at Florida State

Watch out, ACC: Florida State is on the rise once again. The Seminoles were able to secure the commitment of 5-star defensive tackle Mario Edwards, who is going to lead the program back to prominence after a recent dry spell.

Patrik Nohe of the Miami Herald confirmed Edwards' final decision:

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Months of speculation ended early in the morning when Mario Edwards Jr. (DE, 6-4, 280) faxed his official letter of intent to Tallahassee. The nation’s top defensive end was a high profile recruit out of Texas considered by many to be the top prospect in the nation.

Edwards fielded offers from dozens of top programs, but in the end chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and picked the Seminoles.

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Edwards was one of the most coveted defensive linemen in the entire nation. He combines terrific size with light-speed quickness, which should make him a feared pass rusher right away for Florida State. There might not be a player more ready to dominate starting on Day 1 than him.

Even more impressive than any physical attribute is his tireless worth ethic. A lot of top prospects tend to get complacent after the hype train rolls into town, but by all accounts that hasn't been the case with Edwards. He just keeps improving.

He'll be joined by several other marquee prospects. It's unclear if the Seminoles will have the year's best incoming class, but if not, they will be very close.

Top-ranked defensive tackle Eddie Goldman will team with Edwards to form a dynamic duo for the next couple seasons. Goldman has similar explosiveness to his new teammate, and they will be a massive matchup problem for opposing lines.

A couple other names to watch include Justin Shanks, Chris Casher and P.J. Williams. All three players have sky-high potential.

Florida State ranked fourth in the country in points allowed last season. The national signing day additions will only help to improve that already-lofty standing. Going against that unit will be a nightmare for ACC coaches.

As LSU and Alabama proved throughout the season, defense still dominates at the college football.

Once these new recruits get acclimated at Florida State, it's going to be tough to find a defensive unit with more pure talent.

The Edwards commitment shows times are changing at Florida State. The program is once against a premier destination for elite recruits, and usually once that momentum starts rolling, it keeps going for awhile—especially for a team with as much history and exposure as the Seminoles.

It all adds up to Florida State getting back into the national title picture, where it resided for so many years in the past. Get those tomahawk chops ready.