Willie Taggart and new defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett are working hard to close the recruiting cycle with a strong defensive class.
In our last issue, we took a deeper look at which targets Florida State’s staff has locked their focus on offensively. This week, we’ll examine the prospects that new defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett will try to sway to the Seminoles.
FSU is expected to switch back to a 4-3 defense under Barnett’s leadership. He navigated Michigan State’s defense to five top-10 finishes over the last seven years. Barnett has been especially exceptional with defensive backs. He developed the Vikings’ Trae Waynes and the Bengals’ Darqueze Dennard into NFL first-round picks.
Now that Taggart has filled out his staff, expect a lot of interest from recruits. Many prospects spanning from Florida to the west coast are very interested in what Taggart is selling.
Taggart was able to retain legacy recruit Amari Gainer in the early signing period. Gainer has been the bell cow in this class and he’s done a great job of attracting other recruits to the `Noles. He’s already enrolled. There are a flurry of targets currently on the board as FSU wants to sign three to four linebackers. Chatfield is a Miami lean who the staff is working on, Peters is committed to Kentucky but is supposed to visit Tallahassee next weekend and Miller hasn’t yet received an offer but the staff is very interested in him.
FSU returns 10 scholarship defensive tackles despite losing Derrick Nnadi to graduation. So there isn’t a huge need here. Especially with half of those players being underclassmen. The `Noles did sign one of the top interior linemen in the country in Robert Cooper. The four-star prospect has a massive frame and might be as strong as anyone in college football. Cooper is capable of repping 225 pounds on the bench more than 40 times, which is an extremely impressive feat even at the NFL Combine. Only 16 players in NFL history have been able to record 40 or more consecutive repetitions of 225 lbs. Dennis Briggs is the only other target on the board right now. He’s a talented tweener who’s been leaning toward Miami. It’ll be up to Taggart to win him over on his official visit.
Defensive end has suddenly become a position of need for the Seminoles after Josh Sweat and Jalen Wilkerson declared early for the NFL Draft. Even more alarming, FSU currently doesn’t have any commits at the position. However, Malcolm Lamar decommitted from Oregon shortly after Taggart headed to Tallahassee and he’s expected to pledge to the `Noles. King, Peat, and Mincey all have interest in playing under Barnett. King is tied to Taggart while Peat is familiar with new defensive ends coach Mark Snyder. Mincey is loved by the new staff. Chatman is a Miami lean who FSU hopes to sway.
Asante Samuel and AJ Lytton both stayed true to their commitments despite the departure of Jimbo Fisher and the majority of his staff. They are both two of the top defensive backs in the nation. Bolden was committed to Oregon but flipped to FSU shortly after Taggart became the head coach. With four defensive backs currently signed, the `Noles are looking for one more. Taggart and his staff have zeroed in on Olaijah Griffin who was a fan of Florida State growing up. Taggart visited Griffin on his West Coast tour earlier in January and the Seminoles are hoping to get him scheduled on an official visit before signing day.
The Seminoles earned a pledge from one of the top safeties in the country, Jaiden Woodbey, just eight days after offering him. Woodbey is already on campus and going through classes. Other than that, there currently aren’t any other major safety prospects on the board. Foucha has shown interest but he isn’t expected to wind up in this class right now. FSU loses Derwin James, Nate Andrews, Ermon Lane, and Nate Andrews from the 2017 team. Barnett currently has five scholarship safeties, including Woodbey, to work with next season.