4-Star QB Bailey Hockman Commits to FSU: Seminoles Add to QB Factory Rep

Florida State’s 2017 class received a major boost over the weekend with a commitment from 4-star quarterback Bailey Hockman.

A few weeks ago at Nike's The Opening regional camp in Atlanta, the 6’2”, 192-pounder—who rates as the nation’s No. 7 pro-style passer and the No. 156 player overall in the 2017 cycle—spoke on what attracted him to the Seminoles program. 

"It’s a great school and a beautiful campus,” Hockman told Bleacher Report recently. “It could be a really good place for me and help me get to where I want to go. [Head] Coach [Jimbo] Fisher is one of the best quarterback coaches in the county, so that’s definitely appealing." 

Hockman’s commitment is big for the ‘Noles for a number of reasons. 

According to MaxPreps, the left-hander out of McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, threw for 2,520 yards and 30 touchdowns as a sophomore. 

However, as Barton Simmons of 247Sports points out, Hockman—who plays for his father, Kyle, at McEachern—has the intangible qualities necessary to succeed on the college level. 

Another benefit for FSU is that he has a 3.8 GPA and is on track to enroll at Florida State in January.

Getting him in the fold early should help the ‘Noles attract other top prospects to a class that sits at No. 6 nationally in 247Sports' team rankings.

Class	Player	Rating
2010	Clint Trickett	3-Star
2011	Jake Coker	3-Star
2012	Jameis Winston	5-Star
2012	Sean Maguire	3-Star
2013	John Franklin III	3-Star
2014	JJ Cosentino	4-Star
2015	Deondre Francois	4-Star
2015	DeAndre Johnson	3-Star
2016	Malik Henry	4-Star
2017	Bailey Hockman*	4-Star

Additionally, his pledge also continues the theme of Florida State being a primary destination for elite quarterback recruits.

With Hockman’s commitment, FSU has landed a quarterback recruit rated 4-star or higher in five of the Seminoles’ last six recruiting classes.

As Hockman alluded to, Fisher’s resume with landing and grooming top passers is hard to ignore. 

Since he’s been in Tallahassee, Fisher has developed three passers into first-round NFL draft choices—including Heisman Trophy winner and Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout Jameis Winston.

Players such as Winston and EJ Manuel were touted recruits with national offer lists. However, even quarterbacks who weren’t household names in recruiting circles have benefited from Fisher’s tutelage. 

Former Seminoles such as Clint Trickett and Jake Coker—who guided Alabama to a national championship last season—have found success elsewhere after beginning their careers at FSU. Another former ‘Nole—John Franklin III—is competing to become the starter at Auburn this fall, as detailed by AL.com’s Wesley Sinor.

With the Seminoles having established that type of success at the game’s most important position, it gives Fisher’s program a major advantage in helping to keep FSU among the nation’s elite for years to come.

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