September is for Juniors: Florida State 2011 Recruiting Focus

All around the country high school football teams have begun their season, and the future stars of big-time college football are starting to shine on the field not just in camps, combines, and passing leagues. September 1st is the first day that juniors can be officially offered by prospective colleges. A player must have seperated themselves from the pack to get an offer from Florida State before they even touch the field in 11th grade. In this focus we will look at the players that received FSU offers, some that we believe should, and some to keep an eye on if you are in the area.

I have made it more than clear over the last few months how loaded the 2011 class is. There are probably 5 QBs nationwide that would be #1 overall QB this year. If I made a top 20 of FL right now, probably 13-14 of them would come from 2011. It is deep too, really deep. Especially in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina; we need to clean up 2011, this is our shot at a top 3 class. We started this off yesterday with a little preview including video on S/RB Calvin Pryor of Port St. Joe and LB Jermaine Holmes of Valdosta, GA. Now there is tons of videos for you all to feast your eyes on these recruits for yourself, so continue reading and watching. Remember that people sometimes put loud music on recruiting videos.

These players have already been offered by Florida State or told an offer is on the way:

OL La'El Collins: Baton Rouge, LA (Redmptorist)- 6'5'' 285, 5.5-- Been offered by a ton of teams, including in-state LSU and defending national champion UF. That can't be good.

 
RB Isaiah Crowell: Columbus, GA (Carver)- 5'11'' 190-- Crowell is lightning in a bottle, very exciting. However, UGA is a heavy favorite for this stud RB.

DB Tyler Hunter: Valdosta, GA (Lowndes)- 6'0'' 190, 4.5-- May be able to play CB or S for us, either way he should be a fine player. He lays the wood, and has a truly impressive frame for how athletic he is. He loves the Noles and goes to our biggest current pipeline.  He is currently ripping it up in Georgia high school football.  If Hunter keeps up this pace, he will more than likely be a 5*.  Reminds some of former Ohio State DB and first round pick Chris Gamble and still some others of current LSU CB Patrick Johnson/Peterson.

RB Eric Beverly : Jacksonville, FL (First Coast)- 5'11'' 205-- Jimbo offered him after seeing him at a camp. He is a big back with a lot of ability. I want to see more film than I have before I jump on the bandwagon though; what I have seen didn't impress me very much at all. First Coast is also a bigtime supplier of talented football players for the Noles.

ATH Hakeem Flowers: Greenville, SC (Wade Hampton)- 6'3'' 180-- My current "crush" at the moment. This kid is freaky athletic. Usually there is one name that I never use as a comparison because it is difficult to find someone like him, but I will invoke the name Antonio Cromartie with Flowers. I've been told he can play CB, lock down a whole side of a field as a FS, and he is a very good WR as well. Video here and here.

Hakeem Flowers #8 South Carolina Football 2011 (via Generals20111)

RB Jeremy Hill: Baton Rouge, LA (Redmptorist)- 6'1'' 220 4.6-- A big bruising back, but LSU has offered and that usually means they get their player when they are from Louisiana.

DE Ray Drew: Thomasville, GA (Thomas County Central)- 6'5'' 236-- I did a story on Ray Drew here. He is a great kid, a possible 5* and the Seminoles look to be in good standing.

DT Tim Jernigan: Lake City, FL (Columbia)- 6'2'' 275-- Unblockable. Extremly physically mature for his age. 5* lock. He has the Gators out front but is close with Charlie Strong who may be leaving soon. FSU is in second and it is not a done deal by any means.

QB Christian LeMay: Matthews, NC (Butler)- 6'2'' 200, 4.6-- Lemay is a future star QB. He has excellent fundamentals in his dropback, he can be inaccurate at times because he doesn't repeat his delivery very well. However he has a strong arm, he can make all the throws we need. He is athletic, a pocket passer who can run as well.  I am very high on him and it will be a UF-FSU battle.

Christian Lemay 08 2 (via champexpect2win7)

OL Tyler Moore: Clearwater, FL (Countryside)- 6'6'' 290-- Just a stud who is already big enough to play college football. He has distinct ties to Nebraska and has said he likes UF as well. It doesn't look good for FSU.

LB Denzel Perryman: Coral Gables, FL (Coral Gables)- 5'11'' 210-- Denzel is on everyone's watch list and for good reason. He is athletic to the gills and goes sideline to sideline. Apparently he has said FSU leads to some people, however I would be shocked if that were the case. I think UM is way out front.

TE Jay Rome: Valdosta, GA (Valdosta)- 6'6'' 227-- Jay will be a national recruit, with a ticket to any school that he wants when all is said and done. He is a legacy to Clemson and has them in the #1 spot. I'd imagine FSU is #2, but there is a big gap there.

DB Nick Waisome: Groveland, FL (South Lake)- 5'10'' 165, 4.4 -- He has just killed the offseason and people who have worked with him rave about his potential. He is a UF lean at this point, but Florida State has been heavily involved throughout the process and will continue to be. Video here.

ATH Karlos Williams: Davenport, FL (Ridge)- 6'1'' 180 -- Everybody knows about Karlos, the only question at this point is what position will he play in college. His older brother Vince is a LB here, and I think FSU is way ahead of all the other schools. I won't say lock, but he should be a Nole.

Karlos Williams (via SunshinePreps)

DT Gabriel Wright: Columbus, GA (Carver)- 6'2'' 260-- Teammate of Isiah Crowell. UGA Lean probably, I really like this kid a lot.

Gabriel Wright 10th grade highlights (via marcuswright82)

LB Serderius Bryant: Sanford, FL (Seminole)- 6'0'' 202, 4.5-- A LB that needs to add a little weight but can run and packs a punch already. I think UM is in good shape here.

Seminole Bryant 2008 (via 5996240129)

I would add these players, and throw an offer at them:

WR Kelvin Benjamin: Glades Central- Love the way his hips move for a kid his size. Most believe he will move to TE but I really could see him staying outside. Henry Orelus is working those lines, FSU might have a shot. He is related to Travis Benjamin of UM fame. Video Here.

QB/WR Teddy Bridgewater: Miami Northwestern- Wants to play WR in college which I think is a good decision for his future career. He is a national recruit at either position. MNW players go to UM.

Teddy "Heisman" Bridgewater #5 (via genron187)

RB Jeff Dyson: Thomasville High- An electric runner who just glides, teams will be all over him if they aren't already. Hopefully Dexter Carter and our Thomasville connections can help out on this front. We put up video of him in the WORT before yesterday's.

Jeff Dyson (via FSUfrenzy911)

LB James Wilder: Tampa Plant- He is a great all around LB and possibly the best defensive player in the state for the 2011 cycle; it is between him and Jernigan. He has UF in front, and may have grades issues.

James wilder (via 32wilder)

ATH Pop Saunders: Deland- He can pick his position for all I care, just get him in Garnet and Gold. Being heavily recruited by Clemson, I think they lead at this point.  Very very good acceleration.  We hope that his teammate OL Trey Pettis (FSU lock) helps us out here.

#2 De'Ante "Poppa" Saunders Sophomore QB/RB/DB Deland Bulldogs (via volusiahunter)

FSU has their eyes on (and so does TN) Panhandle kids:

DE Deion Lee: Ft. Walton (Lee)- Lee is a kid you won't see on a whole host of watch lists, although some people are paying attention to his huge upside. I had him in my FL top 20, and would do it again if I made it today. He is freaky athletic, playing WR and DE and starting at both as a Freshman. He was at the FSU/UM game last weekend, and there have been a lot of rumors saying that FSU is in good shape for him, obviously we do very well in the panhandle. This film is when he was a freshman, pretty good for his age.

DT Kevin Mitchell: Jacksonville (First Coast)- Kevin Mitchell is a kid that burst onto the scene this off-season and plays on the same line as Tavaris Barnes. I have seen combine tape, but can't find any free game tape, he has a very good first step inside and not quite as good to his outside but he is definitely explosive. I love the kid's frame at 6'5'' 265 measured just before his Junior season, and running in the 5.1/5.03 (40/Shuttle) range. His dad played basketball at FSU, and he goes to Jacksonville First Coast. He was also at FSU/UM.

ATH Mike Reynolds: Tallahassee (Lincoln)- Mike plays dang near every snap at Lincoln, returning kicks and punts, taking time at CB, S, and WR. He had a ton of kick return TDs on JV last year before he finally moved up. I like him at WR, but Safety is an option too, CB is not. He has great burst but not the crazy top gear, more quick than fast. However he has outstanding ball skills, I saw him make a great diving catch against Niceville last week. I have also seen free film, however I am not aloud to link or upload to it unfortunately.