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The Seminoles have been built with emphasis on four position areas: quarterback, offensive line, defensive front and defensive secondary. The core is from the inside out, and the skill players, no matter how talented, are complements to where the game is won: in the trenches. It's often said that the Seminoles are like an SEC West team in terms of their strengths, but FSU is superior to every SEC West team at quarterback with the undefeated Jameis Winston. The Noles, for the most part, have owned the state of Florida in the past five classes but also have supplemented extremely well from other areas.
Cumulative recruiting class ranking
Florida State recruited the second most talent in the nation from 2010 to 2014, trailing only Alabama. The Seminoles' 2011 and 2012 classes were ranked first and second, respectively. Additionally, FSU is clearly the beast of the ACC with the conference's second-best recruiting program, Clemson, ranked 11th.
Recruiting philosophy in action
Florida State doesn't travel far for its skill players. During the 2014 season, 298 of 301 receptions and 362 of 363 rushing attempts (excluding Winston carries) were handled by in-state signees. However, while Tallahassee is surrounded by the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country, Jimbo Fisher still has consistently extended beyond his border states in search of elite talent at positions of emphasis. The offensive line includes a starter from Missouri (true freshman Roderick Johnson) and New Jersey (Josue Matias). Along the defensive front, Fisher went into Texas (Mario Edwards Jr.) and Washington, D.C., (Eddie Goldman) to grab five-star difference-makers. Despite all of the speed in the Sunshine State, Fisher & Co. went to Tennessee for the freakishly athletic Jalen Ramsey and to Maryland for the ultra-fast Ronald Darby, both starters in the secondary.
Key out-of-state pipeline
Florida State typically recruits across the South and dips into several other regions but has recently scored big in the Mid-Atlantic. Fisher made a statement in 2012 by signing Goldman and Darby from the DMV. Virginia natives LB E.J. Levenberry (2013 class) and DL Derrick Nnadi (2014) were productive reserves in the fall. Five-star DE Josh Sweat, another Virginia prospect, is committed for 2015, signifying that this pipeline is stronger than ever.
Recruits who exceeded expectations
Rashad Greene carried an ESPN 150 grade in 2011 but was rated behind two high school teammates: Seminoles OT Bobby Hart and former Gator and current St. Louis Rams CB Marcus Roberson. Everyone saw Greene's combine-verified 4.4 speed, but elite intangibles were also present, allowing the receiver to overcome his slight frame and develop into a tremendous route-runner as well as an essential team leader. He'll leave Tallahassee as one of the most productive receivers in school history. On the other side of the ball, Nate Andrews was an unheralded three-star WR prospect whose only other official visit was to Minnesota. He quickly developed into a key member of a star-studded defense, led the team in solo tackles and scored a defensive touchdown.
Sustaining success in 2015
The Seminoles are one of the few teams that can legitimately push Alabama for the top class in 2015. FSU has 10 ESPN 300 players, including five-stars DE Josh Sweat; ATH George Campbell, the top athlete prospect; and No. 1 overall safety Derwin James. James and ESPN 300 CB Tarvarus McFadden could be immediate contributors in the secondary with players potentially leaving. On offense, Jimbo Fisher has shown he'll use freshman playmakers, and that could happen with Campbell and running back Jacques Patrick. Florida State is filling needs, collecting elite playmakers and putting together a loaded class.
What the future holds
While FSU has two QBs committed in the 2015 class, Fisher may have found his next star pupil in Malik Henry, the No. 1 QB in the 2016 class. The Noles also have top tight end Isaac Nauta and ESPN Junior 300 defensive linemen Cedric Wood and Janarius Robinson in the fold.
College Football Playoff How Florida State Seminoles were built on recruiting trail - ESPN
Cumulative recruiting class ranking
Florida State recruited the second most talent in the nation from 2010 to 2014, trailing only Alabama. The Seminoles' 2011 and 2012 classes were ranked first and second, respectively. Additionally, FSU is clearly the beast of the ACC with the conference's second-best recruiting program, Clemson, ranked 11th.
Recruiting philosophy in action
Florida State doesn't travel far for its skill players. During the 2014 season, 298 of 301 receptions and 362 of 363 rushing attempts (excluding Winston carries) were handled by in-state signees. However, while Tallahassee is surrounded by the most fertile recruiting grounds in the country, Jimbo Fisher still has consistently extended beyond his border states in search of elite talent at positions of emphasis. The offensive line includes a starter from Missouri (true freshman Roderick Johnson) and New Jersey (Josue Matias). Along the defensive front, Fisher went into Texas (Mario Edwards Jr.) and Washington, D.C., (Eddie Goldman) to grab five-star difference-makers. Despite all of the speed in the Sunshine State, Fisher & Co. went to Tennessee for the freakishly athletic Jalen Ramsey and to Maryland for the ultra-fast Ronald Darby, both starters in the secondary.
Key out-of-state pipeline
Florida State typically recruits across the South and dips into several other regions but has recently scored big in the Mid-Atlantic. Fisher made a statement in 2012 by signing Goldman and Darby from the DMV. Virginia natives LB E.J. Levenberry (2013 class) and DL Derrick Nnadi (2014) were productive reserves in the fall. Five-star DE Josh Sweat, another Virginia prospect, is committed for 2015, signifying that this pipeline is stronger than ever.
Recruits who exceeded expectations
Rashad Greene carried an ESPN 150 grade in 2011 but was rated behind two high school teammates: Seminoles OT Bobby Hart and former Gator and current St. Louis Rams CB Marcus Roberson. Everyone saw Greene's combine-verified 4.4 speed, but elite intangibles were also present, allowing the receiver to overcome his slight frame and develop into a tremendous route-runner as well as an essential team leader. He'll leave Tallahassee as one of the most productive receivers in school history. On the other side of the ball, Nate Andrews was an unheralded three-star WR prospect whose only other official visit was to Minnesota. He quickly developed into a key member of a star-studded defense, led the team in solo tackles and scored a defensive touchdown.
Sustaining success in 2015
The Seminoles are one of the few teams that can legitimately push Alabama for the top class in 2015. FSU has 10 ESPN 300 players, including five-stars DE Josh Sweat; ATH George Campbell, the top athlete prospect; and No. 1 overall safety Derwin James. James and ESPN 300 CB Tarvarus McFadden could be immediate contributors in the secondary with players potentially leaving. On offense, Jimbo Fisher has shown he'll use freshman playmakers, and that could happen with Campbell and running back Jacques Patrick. Florida State is filling needs, collecting elite playmakers and putting together a loaded class.
What the future holds
While FSU has two QBs committed in the 2015 class, Fisher may have found his next star pupil in Malik Henry, the No. 1 QB in the 2016 class. The Noles also have top tight end Isaac Nauta and ESPN Junior 300 defensive linemen Cedric Wood and Janarius Robinson in the fold.
College Football Playoff How Florida State Seminoles were built on recruiting trail - ESPN
