How Florida State Has Built Winning Team Through South Florida Recruits

Bobby Bowden built a strong program at Florida State by recruiting well, especially in South Florida. And his successor, Jimbo Fisher, has spent decades recruiting the area, first as an assistant coach at Auburn and LSU, and now as FSU's coach.

In the past two years, FSU has landed four prospects apiece from the South Florida region (Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties). And the 2011 class, ranked No. 1 by 247Sports, was filled with future stars on offense like Rashad Greene, Kelvin Benjamin and Nick O'Leary.

"It’s fun to recruit there," said Fisher, who recruited the area when he was an assistant at Auburn and LSU. "I’ve always had South Florida myself, and I know that area very well. Some great people down there, very competitive. It’s great football.”

As the No. 3 Seminoles (9-0) prepare for Saturday night's rivalry game at Miami (6-3), let's take a look at some of the high school stars who left South Florida to play at FSU.

The past

Al Bello/Getty Images

Bowden had brought players from South Florida in his early years in Tallahassee in the late 1970s. He began making stronger inroads with South Florida recruits as the wins mounted. Bowden built a national reputation for FSU, and the Seminoles quickly became an attractive option.

From defensive stars like Marvin Jones, Lamont Green and Derrick Gibson to quarterback Danny Kanell and playmakers like Rashad Greene, Kelvin Benjamin, Anquan Boldin and Snoop Minnis, FSU's program has been built through success on the recruiting trail in South Florida.

Recruiting in the area is as competitive as any region in the nation. Miami, FSU and Florida are all targeting the same players while trying to uncover one or two diamonds in the rough. One such find was a native of the Virgin Islands who played tight end, Andre Wadsworth, a walk-on who later earned a scholarship and became an All-American defensive end.

Assistant coach Chuck Amato was Bowden's lead recruiter in Dade County in the 1980s and '90s and helped the staff sign numerous prospects.

"Coach Amato recruited that area for many years," former FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said. "He developed a lot of relationships with coaches. And the kind of games that we had against Miami during those years generated some interest from the prospects in that area (to come to FSU)."

The present

Timothy D. Easley/Associated Press

There are more than 40 players from Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties on the Miami roster. The Hurricanes are the hometown team, and they annually bring in a large number of the top recruits. But almost every major program from the power-five conferences recruit the area heavily, and FSU's program features a large contingent of players from the area.

At times Saturday night, there could be as many as eight South Florida 'Noles on the field for the offense if center Austin Barron returns from an arm injury. FSU also has Rashad Greene, Travis Rudolph, Ermon Lane and Bobo Wilson at receiver, tailback Dalvin Cook, tight end Nick O'Leary and right tackle Bobby Hart.

Wilson said he is friends with a number of Hurricanes, players he competed against at the Pop Warner or high school level. They talk now and then, and it's a rivalry built on respect. 

“It’s all love,” Wilson said. “But once we line up and compete, it ain’t no brotherhood."

The future

Building a relationship is the key to recruiting, Fisher has often said. But current 'Noles from the region help, too. They send a positive message when recruits make visits to Tallahassee.

"Your best recruiters are your team," Fisher said. "You’re talking about teams that are happy, teams that are successful, you don’t continually get good players year in and year out if your own kids aren’t recruiting for you. … Those kids tell them exactly what’s going on. That’s why you be so honest with them and coaches — don’t think your kids won’t tell them what’s happening in your organization."

The Seminoles have three verbal commitments from South Florida for the 2015 class: 5-star cornerback Tarvarus McFadden, 4-star safety Calvin Brewton and 4-star linebacker Sh'mar Kilby-Lane. Fisher is also hoping to land a few more prospects, notably receiver Calvin Ridley.

"It’s one of the best areas in America, and you can’t be in your own state and not recruit it," Fisher said. "And the kids that came here have had a lot of success and graduated from school. That’s what I’m happy about.”

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bob on Twitter. Stats are courtesy of seminoles.com. Recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports.com.