While the sun was setting on the Jimbo Fisher era in Tallahassee, the lights also began to dim on Florida State’s 2018 recruiting class. The ’Noles dropped seven commitments in seven days due to the uncertainty surrounding the program, which is not terribly surprising— after all, this is a huge decision for these young men, and they have every right to know just who their next head coach will be.
But as our Bud Elliott wrote about, FSU’s hiring of Willie Taggart from Oregon could bring many new recruits into the fold, as well as affirming some already pledged to the Seminoles. And the latter has very much made its way onto social media in the last couple of days. The former could be set to transpire as well.
It began with Amari Gainer, a Tallahassee native and four-star linebacker prospect.
1000% #Tribe18 pic.twitter.com/MZvI2De14N
— AMARI FERRARI (@AmariGainer) December 7, 2017
Not to be outdone, four-star defensive-tackle commit Robert Cooper, of Snellville, GA, also firmed up his pledge to the ’Noles.
1000% @coachtaggart pic.twitter.com/MQp9Zr1WMC
— 5️⃣6️⃣ (@trenchmonster8) December 10, 2017
And make no mistake about it, in defying math the way that they are, these guys aren’t just saying that they’re still committed to FSU— they’re sending a clear signal to other recruits on social media that they’re not just in, they’re all in.
Check out some of Gainer’s emoji work, with which he forecasts some flips from prospects currently committed to other schools to FSU.
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— AMARI FERRARI (@AmariGainer) December 7, 2017
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— AMARI FERRARI (@AmariGainer) December 7, 2017
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— AMARI FERRARI (@AmariGainer) December 10, 2017
The Cornhusker reference likely refers to four-star WR Josh Moore, while the Ducks emoji could imply a number of current Oregon commits, chief among them four-star receiver Warren Thompson. What remains to be seen is if the Bulldog hints at a possible flip of five-star QB Justin Fields, who is presently committed to Georgia.
FSU will probably land Thompson. The jury is still out on Moore and Fields. But one thing is certain, at this early stage in Taggart’s tenure: he’s already secured a handle on recruiting momentum, even if his full staff remains incomplete.