Florida State Football Recruiting: Meet the Seminoles' 2015 Class

For the most part, national signing day 2015 was a quiet one for the Florida State football program. But that’s not a bad thing.

Before fax machines across the country even started buzzing Wednesday, FSU already had nearly half of its recruiting class on campus taking classes, learning the playbook and working out in the weight room.

With 5-star prospects Derwin James, George Campbell and Josh Sweat highlighting an impressive group of eight early enrollees, the Seminoles stood an excellent chance to finish with a top-rated class if they could hang on to their previously committed recruits. Anything beyond that would simply be icing on the garnet-and-gold-colored cake.

When the dust settled, the ‘Noles missed out on 5-star defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr. and 4-star defensive end Shelton Johnson, but they countered by adding previously uncommitted 4-star defensive back Marcus Lewis from Washington, D.C.

FSU’s efforts were enough to garner a No. 3-rated recruiting class, according to Bleacher Report.

Player	Ht./Wt.	Position (Ranking)	Star-Ranking
Calvin Brewton (EE)	6'0"/175	S (No. 17)	4-star
George Campbell (EE)	6'3"/183	WR (No. 2)	5-star
Ethan Frith (EE)	6'7"/336	OT (No. 61)	3-star
Derwin James (EE)	6'2"/205	S (No. 1)	5-star
De'Andre Johnson (EE)	6'2"/186	DTQB (No. 11)	3-star
Jacques Patrick (EE)	6'1"/230	RB (No. 4)	4-star
Da'Vante Phillips (EE)	6'1"/206	WR (No. 10)	4-star
Josh Sweat (EE)	6'5"/240	DE (No. 1)	5-star
Abdul Bello	6'6"/300	OT (No. 4)	4-star
Deondre Francois	6'2"/191	PSQB (No. 3)	4-star
Sh'mar Kilby-Lane	6'2"/220	OLB (No. 21)	4-star
Marcus Lewis	6'2"/194	ATH (No. 8)	4-star
Tarvarus McFadden	6'3"/200	CB (No. 3)	5-star
Cole Minshew	6'6"/320	OG (No. 3)	3-star
Nyqwan Murray	5'11"/164	WR (No. 85)	3-star
Lorenzo Phillips	6'3"/230	OLB (JUCO No. 1)	4-star
David Robbins	6'5"/305	OG (No. 38)	3-star
Auden Tate	6'5"/205	WR (No. 31)	4-star
Darvin Taylor	6'3"/305	DT (No. 17)	4-star
A.J. Westbrook	6'0"/180	S (No. 23)	3-star
Jalen Wilkerson	6'4"/230	TE (No. 15)	3-star

FSU Signed Arguably the Nation’s Top Wide Receiver and Defensive Back Classes

Campbell and 4-star playmaker Da'Vante Phillips will compete in spring practice as early enrollees, and Florida State added big-bodied 4-star Auden Tate and speedy 3-star Nyqwan Murray on national signing day.

This group of wide receivers is impressive, not just because of its collective 4-star average. This quartet is special because each pass-catcher brings a different skill that defines his game to Tallahassee.

Campbell boasts an impressive catch radius, making him a threat to beat a defender for any ball thrown his way, while Phillips brings a unique toughness to the position. FSU coaches are hoping that Tate will use his massive 6'5", 215-pound frame with the same success that made former wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin so good, and Murray’s incredible balance makes him a dangerous player in the slot.

“What I like about the whole class,” FSU wide receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey said, “is that it’s all football players.”

Dawsey has several new weapons at his disposal, and the same is true for FSU defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Charles Kelly.

Florida State inked five highly touted defensive backs as part of this class, helping usher in a new era in the defensive backfield following the early NFL departures by P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby.

James is the superstar of the class. The No. 1-rated safety in the nation is a proven playmaker, boasting cornerback-like coverage skills and linebacker-like hitting ability. FSU struggled in the back end of its secondary in 2014, and James could force his way into the lineup right away if he’s as-advertised during spring and fall practices.

In Tarvarus McFadden, the Seminoles signed the new breed of cornerback. The 6’2”, 198-pound cornerback can match up with big wide receivers but has the agility and hips to play man-to-man against smaller pass-catchers. Calvin Brewton and A.J. Westbrook are both versatile defenders with good speed and coverage skills. Lewis could play all over the defensive secondary, much like Jalen Ramsey currently does for FSU.

“All of them can run,” Kelly said. “... All of these defensive backs have great ball skills. That’s one of the most critical things you can have at this position.”

FSU Goes Light in the Trenches

Well, perhaps that’s a poor choice of words. Figuratively, the ‘Noles signed a huge class of offensive and defensive linemen. Literally, the class isn’t very big at all.

A season after loading up with a combined 15 offensive and defensive linemen signed as part of the 2014 class, this year’s group features just six new ‘Noles who will play with their hand in the dirt. Because the Seminoles signed so many linemen a year ago, their need to bring in a big class in 2015 wasn’t pressing. Instead, quality over quantity defines this group.

Sweat is the star of the crew and would have very likely been the No. 1-rated recruit in the country had he not suffered a season-ending knee injury during his senior season of high school. Sweat will benefit from receiving treatment from the FSU Athletics medical staff as he prepares for fall camp later this year. 

“Critical,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said, when asked about the importance of getting Sweat into school early from a rehabilitation standpoint. “Because we’ve done this so many times, and the regiment and having that right at your fingertips is very critical. And was one of the reasons I was so tickled to death that we could get him here.”

The Seminoles would have liked to ink Beckner and Johnson to infuse even more playmaking depth on the defensive line, but Taylor is a talented defensive tackle who could push for playing time.

On the offensive line, Cole Minshew may be one of the most underrated recruits in the country, and the 3-star is expected to potentially make a move on the depth right away this fall. Ethan Frith was actually part of the 2014 class but delayed his enrollment until this year so he could recover from an injury. FSU also signed David Robbins and the raw but talented Abdul Bello to round out the class.

“Two tackles and two guards in that group that are very, very talented,” Fisher said.

Odds and Ends

*Florida State’s ability to hang on to Deondre Francois and not let him flip to Florida was huge. After losing former verbal commitment Kai Locksley to Texas Tuesday, FSU still being able to reload at quarterback with Francois and Johnson is important.

With Jameis Winston off to the NFL, the Seminoles face the reality of finding his replacement. And while it may seem like rising redshirt junior Sean Maguire should be penciled in as the new starter because he is the only veteran signal-caller on the roster, that’s not true. Francois, Johnson and redshirt freshman JJ Cosentino will each be given equal opportunity to earn the starting job.

*There isn’t a starting job at tailback open with star Dalvin Cook set to return after a breakout freshman season, but Patrick will get his chance in the rotation this spring. Mario Pender has superstar potential but has struggled to stay on the field during his up-and-down career, and fellow returnees Ryan Green and Jay Vickers are both unproven.

Patrick has the chance to be special and could immediately provide the thunder to Cook’s lightning in the backfield.

*It’s hard to fault them because of some unforeseen offseason circumstances—leading tackler Reggie Northrup having to miss extended time following an injury he suffered in the Rose Bowl and E.J. Levenberry’s decision to transfer—but FSU could have used more than two linebackers in this class.

Granted, both Sh'mar Kilby-Lane and Lorenzo Phillips are talented—and Phillips could step into a starting role as a junior-college signee—but the Seminoles need bodies at linebacker. A class of at least four linebackers would have helped replenish depth.

It should be noted that FSU had a year-long verbal commitment from 3-star linebacker Brian Bell. But the school recently revoked Bell's scholarship, according to a statement by high school coach Randy McPherson (h/t The Valdosta Daily Times), and he did not sign with FSU Wednesday.

*Nick O’Leary is headed to the NFL, so the gaping hole at tight end for FSU will be filled by an unproven youngster. Returners Jeremy Kerr, Mavin Saunders and Ryan Izzo have the inside track for the starting job, but 3-star signee Jalen Wilkerson isn’t that far behind on the learning curve.

Brandon Mellor is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Statistics are courtesy of Seminoles.com. All recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @BrandonMellor on Twitter.