Josh Sweat to Florida State: Seminoles Land 5-Star DE Prospect

One of the great prizes in the 2015 recruiting class has made Florida State very happy. Josh Sweat, a 5-star defensive end from Chesapeake, Virginia, officially announced his intentions to join the Seminoles. Oscar Smith High School, which Sweat attends, announced the news:

Ryan Barrow of 247 Sports reported how Sweat announced his decision:  

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Five-star recruit Josh Sweat's mom pulls open coat & has #FloridaState shirt on. pic.twitter.com/NVihuOoDL9

— Ryan Bartow (@RyanBartow) December 10, 2014"

Despite playing in the heart of ACC country, Smith's recruiting took him to a number of powerhouse schools in the SEC, Big Ten and Pac-12. The star defensive end's list included Virginia Tech, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and Texas A&M, among others. 

The wide-spread interest was not at all surprising considering 247Sports' composite rankings list Sweat as the top weak-side defensive end recruit in the country and the No. 6 overall prospect in the nation.

Adding an elite talent like Sweat gives Florida State a huge leg up on the recruiting competition for 2015. He also comes with an added bonus, as other elite recruits could decide to follow suit hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. 

Steven Lorenz of 247Sports (subscription required) said that Sweat was generating the kind of buzz rarely seen for a defensive end in this recruiting cycle. 

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Sweat currently has a somewhat wide open recruitment, with programs like Florida State, Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Georgia all considered legitimate threats for his services. He is currently ranked 6th overall in the country and is considered one of the top defensive end prospects of the past few recruiting cycles.

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Of course, the highest-profile defensive end to come out of high school in the last five years is Jadeveon Clowney. He committed to South Carolina, becoming one of the key players in Steve Spurrier's tenure at the school and opening the Gamecocks up to new venues previously unavailable before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

Comparing anyone, even a player as talented as Sweat, to Clowney is going to lead to disappointment. Few defensive linemen have as much natural ability as the former South Carolina standout. 

Sweat is certainly not lacking for ability on the field, though. He's a monster human being at 6'5", 237 pounds, and can get stronger as he adds muscle and fills out his frame. Speed is also a weapon for the young man, as he runs a 4.50 40-yard dash and can close as well as any lineman in this class. 

Having an edge-rusher with Sweat's explosiveness is vital to success in this new era of football. More and more teams are gearing up to stretch the field, so getting to the quarterback is more critical than ever. 

Giving Sweat even more value is the fact he comes off the weak side (left) of the line and can hit most quarterbacks on the blind side, allowing him easier access to force fumbles and attack the running game. 

Sweat is a special, unique talent who can make an immediate impact for his new team, so don't be surprised if he's on the field next season instead of redshirting as a freshman. 

All recruiting info courtesy of 247Sports

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