National Signing Day is officially in the rear-view mirror and there is cause to celebrate in Tallahassee. Once again, Florida State signed a top-five recruiting class, wrapping up with four five-star recruits, third most in the nation behind only Ohio State and Alabama. Having trouble keeping track of all the recruits Florida State signed today or already has enrolled? Here’s a complete recap of FSU’s 2017 recruiting class:
Running backs
Cam Akers, 5-star, Clinton (Miss.), Early Enrollee
The stud of Florida State’s 2017 class, Akers is the No. 1 running back and the No. 2 overall player in the 2017 recruiting class. FSU stole the Mississippi native from underneath Ole Miss’ nose.
Khalan Laborn, 5-star, Virginia Beach (Va.) Bishop Sullivan Catholic
Laborn, the No. 1 player from Virginia in the 2017 class, has a knack for jaw-dropping plays as he demonstrated at the Under Armour All-America Game on January 1st. He will serve as a nice compliment to what Akers brings to the table.
Zaquandre White, 4-star, North Fort Myers (Fla.)
The thunder to Laborn and Akers’ lightning, White is more of the bruiser-type running back, but still has the ability to break off a long run.
Defensive backs
Stanford Samuels III, 4-star, Hollywood (Fla.) Flanagan, Early Enrollee
The son of former Florida State cornerback Stanford Samuels Jr., Samuels III was a five-star corner through most of the recruiting cycle, losing his fifth star late due to an injury he suffered during his senior season. Still, his size and athleticism are ideal for the position.
Cyrus Fagan, 4-star, Daytona Beach (Fla.) Maitland, Early Enrollee
Fagan, a four-star safety, has very strong ball skills and can cover a large amount of the field. He is the type of player that doesn’t just break passes up, but comes down with the interception fairly consistently as well.
Hamsah Nasirildeen, 4-star, Concord (N.C.)
The No. 1 player from North Carolina, Nasirildeen is an additional blue-chip safety and one of the freakiest athletes in Florida State’s 2017 class and has an exceptionally high ceiling.
Ontaria Wilson, 3-star, Ashburn (Ga.) Turner County
With Florida State as his only FBS offer, Wilson was the victim of being located in rural Georgia which kept his recruiting profile low. Still, his talent at cornerback is undeniable and he is one of multiple three-star gems in this year’s class.
DeCalon Brooks, 3-star, Tampa (Fla.) Gaither
Brooks, the son of Florida State legend Derrick Brooks, played linebacker in high school, but projects more as a defensive back at FSU. He may be a bit undersized to contribute early, but his versatility and football IQ make him an intriguing prospect in the future.
Quarterbacks
Bailey Hockman, 4-star, Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern, Early Enrollee
Of FSU’s two quarterback commits, Hockman has the higher floor. He was a three-year starter in high school and has displayed impressive arm strength, accuracy, and deceptive mobility.
James Blackman, 3-star, Bella Glade (Fla.) Glades Central
Contrary to Hockman, Blackman is the quarterback in this year’s class with the lower floor and the higher ceiling. He is taller and has a knack for throwing on the run, but will likely take more time to competently learn Jimbo Fisher’s offense.
Wide Receivers
D.J. Matthews, 4-star, Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Catholic
All that separates Matthews from his fifth star is a few inches of height. He has elite acceleration, great hands, a knack for making impressively quick cuts, and a jumping ability far surpassing most receivers his height.
Tamorrion Terry, 4-star, Ashburn (Ga.) Turner County
A high school teammate of Wilson, Terry’s 6’4 frame will put him among FSU’s tallest receivers from the day he steps on campus. The question now becomes how well he can perform against significantly better competition than he saw in high school.
Tight Ends
Tre’ McKitty, 3-star, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, Early Enrollee
One of two IMG Academy alumni in this class, McKitty will impress with his 6’5 frame paired with his ability to run a 4.5 40-yard dash. He can go up to make catches and does a lot of things right in the blocking game.
Alexander Marshall, 3-star, Bridgton (Maine) Academy
The No. 1 player from Maine, Marshall uses his massive 6’7 frame to his advantage. His versatility and athleticism in spite of his size made him a highly-coveted player across the country.
Offensive Line
Brady Scott, 3-star, Kennesaw (Ga.) Mount Paran Christian
The sole offensive lineman in Florida State’s 2017 class, Scott is a three-star prospect with a mean streak shown regularly in his senior film who could succeed at either guard or tackle.
Defensive Ends
Josh Kaindoh, 5-star, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, Early Enrollee
The late Florida State commit pushed the Seminoles’ early enrollee class over the top. Kaindoh, the No. 9 overall player and No. 3 defensive end in the 2017 recruiting class, mixes strength, length, and speed extremely well and will surely push for early playing time.
Tre Lawson, 3-star, North Augusta (S.C.)
Lawson’s 6’6, 240-pound frame with room for further growth is a testament to how high his ceiling could be. He has showcased solid acceleration, strength, and play recognition in his game film.
Defensive Tackles
Marvin Wilson, 5-star, Bellaire (Texas) Episcopal
The No. 6 recruit in the 2017 composite rankings, Wilson was the highest rated recruit to announce his decision on Wednesday. The top-ranked defensive tackle chose the Seminoles over LSU, Ohio State, and Oklahoma, and is sure to have an instant impact on the Florida State defensive front.
Ja’len Parks, 4-star, Newberry (Fla.)
Parks, listed as a defensive tackle, has the versatility to play perhaps anywhere on the defensive line. He uses his leverage well and has drawn comparisons to Mario Edwards Jr. from some of our staff members.
Cory Durden, 3-star, Newberry (Fla.)
Durden, Parks’ high school teammate and cousin, uses every bit of his 6’4, 316-pound frame to be a nuisance in the middle of the defensive line. He recently lost his fourth star, but don’t take that as a drop-off in his talent or potential.
Linebackers
Adonis Thomas, 3-star, Senatobia (Miss.) Northwest Mississippi C.C., Early Enrollee
Thomas, who spent a pair of years at Alabama before transferring to community college for a year, will add some much-needed depth to the Florida State linebacker corps.
Leonard Warner, 4-star, Snellville (Ga.) Brookwood
An important signing day addition, Warner, who was at Alabama for two years before transferring, has the skill set to be a three-down linebacker for Florida State.
Specialists
Grant Glennon, 3-star, Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln
Glennon, the top long snapper in the 2017 recruiting class, is a likely grayshirt candidate being brought in to serve as the successor to Stephen Gabbard, who is entering his senior season.