Florida State football, recruiting news: FSU valued as the fifth-best power five job

Football

Travis Haney and ESPN writers set out to answer the question: What if every college football job were open? Which would be most desirable? ($)

5. Florida State, ACC

Current head coach: Jimbo Fisher (seventh year)

2015 rank: 7 | 2015 record: 10-3

FSU also received a first-place vote from a panelist. Like Florida, FSU is seen as a school with increasing administrative support in a recruit-rich environment.

The bright side: Jimbo Fisher has done his best to turn FSU into "the Alabama of the ACC." He has come the closest to replicating Nick Saban's success by leveraging a lighter schedule and better in-state talent than Bama enjoys. Coaches talk often about how difficult replacing a legend can be, yet Fisher has done about as well as anyone in that department since he took over for Bobby Bowden. Now that FSU has better institutional support, as evidenced by improving facilities such as an indoor complex, it's scary how effective it can be in the recruiting game. FSU had the top-ranked class this year and ranked second in 2015 and third in 2014. Its talent level is currently as strong as that of any program in America. Because it doesn't deal with the football-obsessed SEC West, there are reasons to believe FSU might have college football's most sustainable program. That's important to note when considering reports that Fisher thought about leaving FSU for LSU before deciding in November to stay put. "If they were both playing in the SEC, you'd have to pick LSU," a Power 5 coach told Insider. "But they aren't both playing in the SEC."

The challenge: There aren't too many. The support of FSU's leadership could always subside, but that's a concern for any program. The state is so heavily recruited, but no one has more recent on-field momentum and cachet than FSU. Heck, it has had three first-round quarterbacks since 2011. Tallahassee is a well-below-average college setting, but that has not seemed to preclude FSU's recruiting abilities the past few years.

Other notables: No. 6 Florida, No. 10 Clemson

- Andy Staples, a college football writer for Sports Illustrated, makes the case for an underclassman combine before the draft declaration date.

- David Hale of ESPN details what it would take for Florida State to dethrone Clemson and win the ACC in 2016, what could keep it from happening, and the Seminoles' x-factor.

Recruiting

- The Seminoles wrapped up their second and final Junior Day of 2016, offering six scholarships and earning three commitments over the weekend, a 2017 defensive back, a 2018 running back, and a 2019 defensive end/tight end.

Over the weekend, Florida State also offered 2018 offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr.

Very Blessed to receive an offer from Florida State University!! #NoleNation pic.twitter.com/XD8GwUhOjq

— Emil Ekiyor Jr. (@bigE__18) February 26, 2016

Alumni

- NFL Draft Scout's Matt Miller can't stop saying flattering things about Jalen Ramsey.

Jalen Ramsey is the best player in this class. Might be a generational talent https://t.co/AWVG2BRXyt

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) February 28, 2016

- Six former Seminoles continue their workouts and interviews at the 2016 NFL Draft Combine.

Other Sports

- The Florida State basketball team put an end to its five-game losing streak on Saturday with an impressive performance against the visiting Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

- The FSU baseball team bounced back from a loss to the College of Charleston in Friday's series opener to win the weekend series over the Cougars.