Florida State needs to take at least four receivers in the 2018 recruiting class. While all of the scholarship receivers on the 2017 team are slated to return, juniors Nyquan Murray, Auden Tate, and Da’Vante Phillips are all technically draft eligible, meaning the prudent strategy for FSU is to plan on at least one of them leaving early. Redshirt sophomore George Campbell has never been able to stay healthy, and at this point cannot be counted on until he proves otherwise. True sophomore Keith Gavin could jump to the NFL after the 2018 season, and FSU took two receivers in the 2017 class.
Thus the need to sign four in the 2018 class, as a pro-style team like the Seminoles usually wants to carry eight or nine on the roster.
Commits
FSU currently has three commitments in the class.
Marquez Ezzard, Stockbridge (Ga.)
Marquez Ezzard is a 6’1.5, 210-pound receiver with strong body control and hands. His top-end speed is not remarkable, but physically, few can body the four-star. His playing style might remind some of Anquan Boldin. Other offers include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Tennessee, and USC.
Antoine Green, Rockledge (FLa.)
The 6'3, 195-pound Green chose FSU offers from 30 other offers including Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ole Miss, and Louisville.
At the recent Nike Opening event in Orlando Green measured in at 6’3 195lbs, ran a 4.5 forty, a 4.38 shuttle, and added a 37.5 vertical jump. All plus athletic traits which show up time and time again on his junior highlights.
Green is rated as a three-star, but that is rather deceptive given the slow reaction times of the rating services this year (several have not even rated him). FSU, Ohio State, Georgia, etc. are not in the business of chasing three-stars eight months ahead of signing day, and I believe Green is a four-star talent.
D’Marcus Adams, Daytona Beach (Fla.)
Adams has impressed at camp for two-consecutive years. He profiles as a slot with plus speed, and is rated a three-star recruit, probably justifiably. Penn State and North Carolina also offered.
Targets
In order to land the remaining receivers it needs, FSU will need to target at four or five.
Tommy Bush, Schertz (Texas)
Bush is all about upside. I first saw him in February at the Houston Nike Opening Regional, and wondered why he was rated outside the top 500 nationally, while other Texas receivers who looked similar to him were already in the top-100. The answer is that Bush only had 25 catches for 395 yards as a junior, and is just coming into his own.
Bush is 6’4.5, 190, and ran the fastest time of the cold, windy day in February — a 4.47, better than 20 other four- and five-stars in attendance. His 4.15 shuttle was also impressive. Bush is now rated in the top 200 nationally. He is raw, but the upside is undeniable.
Baylor is thought to be his leader, but it is worth watching how Baylor’s offense looks now that the Bears are running Matt Rhule’s system, and not the old Art Briles attack. On the positive side for Florida State, Bush has already visited in June, and plans to return. On the negative side, he has made comments that he pays attention to who a school has put into the NFL, and under coach Lawrence Dawsey, 10 drafts have come and gone with just two draft picks at receiver.
Jaylen Waddle, Bellaire (Texas)
Waddle is a 5’9.5, 175-pound slot with some ridiculous start/stop moves and ball skills. He is the former high school teammate of Marvin Wilson, the No. 1 defensive tackle in the class of 2017 who signed with Florida State. Waddle visited again in July, and the four-star spent time with his former teammate Wilson.
Texas A&M and Oregon, two spread teams, are also high up on his list, as is Alabama. Leon O’Neal and Jordan Moore, two four-star Aggie commitments are also on his 7v7 team, and are recruiting him hard.
Warren Thompson, Tampa (Fla.)
Thompson is an Oregon commitment, which surprised many given his affinity for Florida State. The four-star is a 6’4, 185-pounder with room to add muscle. As with any time a Florida prospect commits to a school like Oregon, the question is whether the high of the visit will wear off, and the reality of distance will set in. FSU is still pursuing Thompson, and he brought his mother along to see FSU during his visit in July.
Jeshaun Jones, Fort Myers (Fla.)
Jones is a 6’1, 175-pound receiver from Fort Myers (Fla.) South. He earned his offer from Florida State after an excellent performance at the July session of the Jimbo Fisher camp. Jones bends well and can be an excellent route runner (I also believe he could play corner at a high level). The groan you hear is likely from staffs like Arkansas, Tennessee, and N.C. State, who were putting in work to recruit him. We’ll see how Jones fits into Florida State’s plans as the year progresses.
Sam Pinckney, Greenwood (S.C.)
I can’t figure out why Pinckney is rated as the No. 219 receiver nationally and the No. 1464 player overall. I have not seen him play in person, but you don’t see schools like FSU, Georgia, LSU, and Virginia Tech going out-of-state to chase players rated outside the top 1000 (not hundred, but thousand) nationally. His highlight film looks good, and he has production, with 133 catches, 1827 yards, and 18 touchdowns over the last two seasons. He’s also listed at 6’3, and 205 pounds, a believable measurement.
Pinckney showed up at Florida State camp and caught the ball well, but did not show great foot speed, and while he wanted to commit to Florida State in July, it does not appear that FSU is ready to take his commitment.
Justyn Ross, Phenix City (Ala.)
Ross is a total upside play. A basketball player who is new to football, the 6’4, 200-pound Ross can make some incredible catches, though he is understandably still learning the finer points of the position.
Ross consistently mentions Florida State, but I believe Auburn, Alabama, and maybe Clemson are more likely to sign him.
Kearis Jackson, Fort Valley (Ga.)
Jackson is an athletic, thick 5’11 receiver. Florida State made his top seven recently, but is thought to trail teams like Georgia and Auburn. If he visits again, I’ll re-assess things. Jackson is good friends with FSU QB target Justin Fields.
Etc.
- Targets can and do emerge later in the cycle, so this article will be updated.
- I do not believe FSU is pursuing Texas receiver Joshua Moore any longer. He committed to Nebraska, and transferred home from IMG Academy. Moore no longer playing in Florida hurts FSU’s chances, and cutting bait is the right move.