Florida State Recruiting Wish List: Breaking Down the Seminoles Top Targets

Florida State has long been one of the top recruiting schools in the country and things are no different when it comes to the 2011 class. 

The Seminoles hold commitments from 5-star prospects James Wilder and Karlos Williams, two of the top overall recruits in the nation. 

But the school also adds a well-balanced and talented group of prospects to the mix and aren't done yet. 

Let's breakdown FSU' top targets and give you a deeper look into the possibilities to further bolster the Seminoles recruiting rank. 

Florida State's 2011 Recruiting Class

Five-Star Commitments: 2
Four-Star Commitments: 3
Three-Star Commitments: 10

FSU is on the cusp of a top 10 recruiting class and is still in the running for some of Florida's best talent beyond Wilder.

So far they have some of the best athletes in the country committed, and fans should be excited for it.

With 5-star safety Karlos Williams, 4-star offensive tackle Bobby Hart, 4-star receiver Rashad Greene, and 5-star defensive end Terrance Smith on board, FSU has five of the top 100 commitments to this point.

That's of course including Wilder, the 5-star native of Tampa who instantly becomes the top prospect of FSU's class.

Wayne Lyons, S

At 6'1", 190 lbs, Lyons has a natural frame that makes him look more like a linebacker than a safety when he's got his pads on. He certainly hits like a linebacker. 

He'll need to work on his backpedal and man-to-man coverage skills but the tools are there for him to develop into an outstanding playmaker.

He's got a great pair of hands and is a very smart football player.

Lyons is a true quarterback of the secondary and will get his troops lined up quickly, calling out adjustments like someone born to play this position. 

He's gone from 50 offers to a narrowed down list of 14 finalists and is said to be favoring FSU, Florida, and Miami from the that list.

The Florida native definitely appears to be the state's Big Three to lose. 

Nick O'Leary, TE

O'Leary might be the best tight end in the 2011 class. He's a receiver and lineman mixed into one body.

He has the all-around skills to be an immediate force on the football field. O'Leary is an elite blocker, has a great set of hands, moves down field well, and runs crisp routes.

There really aren't any issues you can find with his game besides his height. Listed at a generous 6'4", O'Leary doesn't have prototypical size for the position.

If he were three inches taller he might have been a unanimous choice for No. 1 at his position.

The Florida native has Miami and FSU at the top of his list and while it isn't quite down to those two schools just yet, it appears close to it.

Jermauria Rasco, DE

Rasco has improved tremendously every year, and that's something to take note of when looking at a prospect. He's an elite defensive end with a very high ceiling, and he's only getting better as he ages.

He's got great instincts and discipline, but his technique and movements are still on the raw side.

If he can learn to add some weapons to his arsenal and get off the ball quicker, he could end up being the best defensive end in the class.

For someone with so much to work on, seeing how fast he's able to disengage from his blockers and engage ball-carriers is eyebrow raising.

The schools recruiting him the hardest are Texas, LSU, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, and UCLA.

Tim Jernigan, DT

At 6'2", 275 lbs, Jernigan is an athletic big man who moves extremely well for his size and can get into the backfield in a hurry.

He's a disruptive force who recorded 131 tackles, including 27 for loss as a junior and commands a constant double-team.

He has all the tools to become an elite college defensive lineman. He's strong, stays low to the ground, drives with his legs, and has a relentless motor.

On top of that, he has a solid array of power and finesse moves to shed blocks and penetrate the line of scrimmage.

Jernigan is a monster in pursuit and never gives up on a play, even if it means chasing a ball carrier 20-30 yards down field.

His favorites are Florida, Florida State, LSU, Alabama, and Michigan, but he's "in no rush" to make a decision.

Tony Steward, LB

At 6'2" and 225 pounds, Steward is one of the most physically imposing prospects in the country.

The kid is built like a body builder, with hardly an ounce of fat. He's incredibly strong and is one of the most athletic prospects in the country at any position, let alone linebacker.

Based on the way he's built, and his natural ability to sniff out the football, Steward is likely to make a big impact as a freshman.

What's most impressive about his game is his ability to get out in open space and cover a ton of ground in pass protection.

His top two choices are FSU and Clemson, with every visit to each school swaying him between the two. At the moment, the Tigers are the slight favorites, but there is plenty of time for that to change.