Should Florida Worry 4-Star Commit Shavar Manuel Will Visit Florida State?

Even though Shavar Manuel committed to the Florida Gators football program earlier this month, it appears that rival Florida State isn’t giving up on a player once believed to be leaning toward the Seminoles at the beginning stages of his process.

As ESPN’s Derek Tyson reported, Manuel—who will visit Gainesville, Florida this weekend—plans to also take a trip to Tallahassee next weekend.

The two Sunshine State powers have been battling over the 6’4”, 290-pound, in-state defensive tackle for more than a year.

Programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and LSU were among the those to give Manuel an offer. But the two most consistent programs in his recruitment have been the Gators and the ‘Noles.

With Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff getting the last crack at Manuel just days before national signing day, should the Gators be worried about Manuel’s pledge?

As he told Josh Newberg of Noles247 last month, he wasn’t keen on making a decision and then backing off of it later in the process.

“I would say all the teams are about equal,” Manuel told Newberg. “My decision is going to be about me and where I fit in. When I make my decision that’s it, I’m not a big commitment and decommitment type guy.”

That sentiment seems to favor him sticking with his original pledge.

However, in recruiting, nothing is ever final until a prospect signs a letter of intent or enrolls at his school of choice.

The Seminoles have already added a pair of defensive tackles who are already on campus as early enrollees.

Still, with that position being one of the ‘Noles primary needs in the 2016 cycle, they would love to add an in-state prospect with Manuel’s upside to their roster.

After all, it was almost at this point last year when Manuel named the Seminoles his leader, as detailed by Newberg.

"

Sorry For The Wait.. pic.twitter.com/SoLhkUTcZT

— Shavar Manuel (@TheRealShavar46) January 5, 2016"

Seminoles defensive line coach Brad Lawing, who held the same post at Florida prior to arriving at FSU last year, made a big impression on Manuel when the two first met.

“I met Brad Lawing [and] he’s awesome,” Manuel told Newberg. “He knows what he was talking about. He showed me some film of Dante Fowler, one of the greatest. (Coach Lawing) was awesome, just awesome.”

Still, the Gators were able to make a move on Manuel last spring and carried that momentum through until he made his commitment.

Considering that head coach Jim McElwain and his staff are getting the nation’s No. 8 defensive tackle and No. 60 prospect on campus this weekend, it gives them a chance to reinforce the reasons that made Manuel comfortable enough to commit.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani