Elite recruits visiting Florida State for junior day

Saturday afternoon update

I’ve been working the phones to get you the scoop on the prospects discussed below for FSU’s Junior Day. I am not in Tallahassee, as I have to be in Miami at The Opening camp early Sunday morning. Luckily, cell phones exist, so I’ve been texting sources including players, parents, and their coaches.

• The coaching staff made a strong impression on players, coaches, and parents. Specifically, WR coach David Kelly. “He’s like a second head coach,” a parent told me.
• FSU landed a commitment from Jadarius McKnight, a 2020 athlete from Ft. Myers (Fla.) Dunbar. I’ll have more on him later, as he plays about 15 minutes from my house. FSU also made a strong impression on his 2019 teammate, Derick Hunter, an elite 2019 DL. LB coach Raymond Woodie does an excellent job in Collier/Lee/Charlotte County.
• FSU is the top school for OL Dontae Lucas. This has been known for some time, despite his public comments about Miami. TE coach Telly Lockette played with Lucas’ father (deceased), has known his mother since childhood, coached his brother Marquis, who went to West Virginia and is now with the Bucs, and has known Dontae for a while. Once I realized FSU was hiring Telly Lockette, I put in my FSU pick for Lucas. He hasn’t publicly committed (yet), but I consider him the most likely to do so among the uncommitted players. A commitment in the very near future shouldn’t come as a surprise to our readers.

• Lucas’ IMG teammates Jaleel McRae and Briton Allen were also pretty wowed by the trip, and I’m told both want offers. FSU has yet to offer, but they’ll continue to evaluate.

• 2020 ATH Ja’Marquis Johnson is a prospect I have been hyping forever, and FSU did a great job getting the Nashville (Ga.) prospect on campus. Once in Tallahassee, FSU offered and made a great impression on him and his coach, Brian Carter. Johnson is 200+ pounds with an 80” wingspan and is going to be an elite prospect as a safety or linebacker.
• I learned FSU likes 2019 Madison Co.’s Travis Jay at cornerback (not safety), and the staff believes his ability to play corner at 6’1, 180 and hit like he does makes him one of the truly elite players in the state.
• Miami defensive end commitment Cameron Williams was saying some pretty glowing things about Florida State to fellow prospects and people on hand. I’m not predicting a flip, but FSU made a good impression.
• Williams’ cousin, WR John Dunmore, also made the trip. I’m waiting to hear back from him, but will likely see him Sunday in Miami if he doesn’t get back with us tonight.
• 2020 ATH Latarie Kinsler Jr., of Pahokee, made it and had a good visit. He’s a name to watch.

• Defensive end Lloyd Summerall visited with his father. Another parent on the trip told me Summerall’s dad was absolutely feeling FSU’s presentation. Summerall’s extremely high on FSU’s board.

• Elite 2020 OL Joshua Braun made it. I didn’t have him on my original list. He’ll be a national prospect.
• FSU made a strong impression on Louisiana DB Devin Bush, who visited with his parents. Kids coming with their parents is always a good sign.

• Georgia prospects Jashawn Sheffield and Wanya Morris did not make it. FSU will try to get them at the next one. I believe those are the two notable no-shows from my list. Having that high a percentage show up rarely happens.

Florida State Seminoles football hit its 2018 recruiting class out of the park when compared to all other schools making coaching changes. Because it had to focus so much on the 2018 recruiting class over the last two months, the Seminoles are trying to play catch up with the 2019 recruiting class, a group that Willie Taggart and his staff must do a great job with if he is to win big in Tallahassee.

That started on National Signing Day, as the staff contacted many of its top targets. And it continues Saturday as prospects are coming to town for junior day.

Note 1: Here is a rundown of players who have been confirmed to Tomahawk Nation themselves, by their coach, a parent, or FSU sources.

Note 2: The Miami Nike Opening camp is Sunday, which means that a lot of the elite South Florida recruits who got invited will not be at junior day, since the travel is not feasible. They will try to be at future junior days.

Note 3: FSU wants this to be a smaller event so that more 1-on-1 attention can be given to priority targets, as opposed to a hundred kids showing up, many of whom have no shot to play for FSU.

This will be updated once each day.

• RB Josh Berry, Davenport (Fla.) Ridge Community: I don’t know much about him, but he plays against some good competition. He does not yet hold an offer.
• RB Ja’Taire Washington, Pahokee (Fla.): Washington has some seriously electric highlights. He does not yet hold an offer.
• RB Jalen Mitchell, Rockledge (Fla.): Mitchell’s best offer at the moment is Virginia Tech.
• WR John Dunmore, Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna: Dunmore is one of the top receivers in the state. He is cousins with Cameron Williams (below). Dunmore also said that he is trying to bring Te’Cory Couch, one of the top athletes in Florida, but he has not confirmed that yet.
• WR Ahmarean Brown, Tampa (Fla.) Catholic: Brown is an athletic prospect out of the Tampa area, which figures to be an FSU stronghold with the connections of the new staff. He does not yet hold an offer.
• WR Jashawn Sheffield, St. Simonds Island (Ga.) Frederica Academy: Sheffield is a promising prospect with good size (6’1) and athleticism.
• WR Dominick Hill, Orlando (Fla.) Jones (2020): Hill is a name to watch for 2020.

• OL Dontae Lucas, IMG Academy (Fla.): One of, if not the top guard targets for Florida State.
• OL Jordan Bostic, Deerfield Beach (Fla.): Bostic is a rising offensive lineman. He does not yet hold an offer.
• OL Wanya Morris, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson: Morris is a former FSU commit and one of the top tackles in the nation.
• DL Lloyd Summerall, Auburndale (Fla.) Senior: Summerall is one of the premiere rush ends in Florida.
• DL Tru Thompson, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson: Thompson is an FSU commit at DT.
• DL Norell Pollard, Apopka (Fla.) Wekiva: Pollard is short, but explosive at DT. He does not yet hold an offer.
• DL Cameron Williams, Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna: Williams is a Miami commitment and a promising long defensive end.
• DL Derrick Hunter, Ft. Myers (Fla.) Lehigh: Hunter is a big time defensive lineman who profiles inside. FSU recently offered.
• DL/LB Jontrell Oliver, Gibsonton (Fla.) East Bay: He does not yet hold an offer.

• LB Jaleel McRae, IMG Academy (Fla.): McRae is an athletic linebacker and a recent UF decommit.
• DB Cortez Andrews, Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby: Andrews is one of the better defensive backs in the state and does hold an offer.
• DB Devin Bush, New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr: Bush is one of the top cornerbacks in the nation.
• DB Daquan Evans, Orlando (Fla.) Jones: He does not yet hold an offer
• DB Raymond Woodie III, Tallahassee (Fla.) Florida High: A promising athlete at safety or linebacker, and the son of LB coach Raymond Woodie Jr.
• DB Briton Allen, IMG Academy (Fla.): A recent transfer from Lake Highland Prep to IMG. He does not yet hold an offer.
• DB Terrod Kearse, Ft. Myers (Fla.) Dunbar (2021): Kearse, from Ft. Myers, as in Jevon Kearse? Same hometown.
• DB Jaylin Simpson, St. Simonds Island (Ga.) Frederica Academy: Simpson is a versatile DB.
• DB Travis Jay, Madison (Fla.) Madison County: Jay is an elite safety prospect whose ranking will soon catch up with his talent.
• DB D.J. Turner, Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett: Turner is a nice cornerback prospect to monitor.
• ATH James Thomas, Camilla (Ga.) Mitchell County (2020): Thomas could be big time at receiver or on defense. He does not yet hold an offer.
• ATH Jadarius McKnight, Ft. Myers (Fla.) Dunbar (2020): McKnight is a player to watch for 2020, and an excellent athlete who could play on either side of the ball. He does not yet hold an offer.
• ATH Seneca Milledge, Ft. Myers (Fla.) Dunbar: Milledge is one of the fastest players in Florida. He does not yet hold an offer.
• ATH Ja’Marquis Johnson (2020), Nashville (Ga.) Berrien Co.: Johnson is one of the premiere 2020 prospects I have seen so far in the 2020 class.