FSU has not offered a ton of linebackers for the class of 2025. Most of the offers for 2025 came before the spring started. Tavion Wallace who FSU leads for was offered before the spring. Riley Pettijohn who FSU also offered early showed interest but that has since subsided. Gavin Nix, Zaydrius Rainey Sale and Ty Jackson were all offered early. The only recent offer for the 2025 class was Michael Hastie. FSU has a commitment from Ethan Pritchard of Seminole HS and everyone feels he will play linebacker in college. So with Pritchard committed and Wallace about to FSU does not have a major need for linebackers in the class of 2025. The 2026 and 2027 classes are starting to fill out for the Seminoles. We will break down the line backing board and where FSU stands with offers.
2025 Offers
Michael Hastie-Douglas County-6'3-230 -He is one of the bigger linebackers on FSU board. As with most of the FSU defense the trend is towards bigger players. Michael fits the mold. He is a big backer that will help out in run support. He is actually not terrible in pass coverage. He moves well for a big guy. It will be interesting to see if FSU takes his commitment or waits for guys like Gavin Nix, Rainey and Jackson.
2026 Offers
Adam Balogoun-Ali: The Benjamin School-(FL) 6'2-200: Ali performed very well at the Rivals Camp. He was one of the top backers. His versatility is what first stood out. He can run. He can go back into coverage and stay with backs and receivers in space. He is someone that can come down in the box or drop back into coverage and help in the passing game. He may end up one of the more complete backers on the board. FSU is one of the leaders for Ali services.
Desmond Johnson: Miami Northwestern (FL) 6’1-200: Northwestern has been down the last few seasons. Johnson is someone that FSU watched this spring and offered. He comes from the same school as Lavonta David. FSU linebacker Marvin Jones also played at the west. He is a backer that gives you some speed and quickness on defense. He can drop down the seam and cover a linebacker. He does not have great size so playing the run may be an issue at times.
Malik Morris-Lakeland (FL) 6’1-230: They say the day of 230 pounds linebackers are over. Morris breaks the mold as he is a BIG Backer. The question with Morris is he able to cover backs and receivers in space? If he is not an every down linebacker that hurts his overall stock. He is someone that can play downhill and stuff the run. He is not easy to run against. He is athletic enough to not be a liability in coverage.
Izayia Williams: Leesburg (FL) 6’1-200 Committed to Syracuse: Williams is a prospect to keep an eye on. He pulled the trigger early for Syracuse. He is someone that is going to draw a ton of interest from college coaches. Williams can run. He is a good enough athlete to come off the edge and rush the passer. He is athletic enough to play in coverage. He is built like a safety but that is the type of backer you see in college football these days. He is much underrated and we expect him to be heavily recruited next fall.
Jordan Campbell: Carol City (FL) 6’2-200 Committed to Miami: Campbell is a hybrid LB/DE. He can stand up and rush the passer. If you look at his frame he is similar to former Seminole Christian Jones. He has size and length. He is someone that can put pressure on the quarterback. He has the speed and quickness to play in space. He has some range. You can have him drop into coverage and play the pass. He is a prospect that you recruit and worry about where to play him once on campus.
Markel Dabney: Hugeunot (VA) 6’1-210: Dabney has been offered. He is a prospect that has played on both sides of the football. We like backers that have also played running back. He will call out the defense. Turn on the film and Dabney is very active on the defensive side of the football. He can blitz and make a big play. He can rush the passer. He can come up and play the run. Dabney is more of a complete backer than some of the prospects listed above.
2025 Offers
Michael Hastie-Douglas County-6'3-230 -He is one of the bigger linebackers on FSU board. As with most of the FSU defense the trend is towards bigger players. Michael fits the mold. He is a big backer that will help out in run support. He is actually not terrible in pass coverage. He moves well for a big guy. It will be interesting to see if FSU takes his commitment or waits for guys like Gavin Nix, Rainey and Jackson.
2026 Offers
Adam Balogoun-Ali: The Benjamin School-(FL) 6'2-200: Ali performed very well at the Rivals Camp. He was one of the top backers. His versatility is what first stood out. He can run. He can go back into coverage and stay with backs and receivers in space. He is someone that can come down in the box or drop back into coverage and help in the passing game. He may end up one of the more complete backers on the board. FSU is one of the leaders for Ali services.
Desmond Johnson: Miami Northwestern (FL) 6’1-200: Northwestern has been down the last few seasons. Johnson is someone that FSU watched this spring and offered. He comes from the same school as Lavonta David. FSU linebacker Marvin Jones also played at the west. He is a backer that gives you some speed and quickness on defense. He can drop down the seam and cover a linebacker. He does not have great size so playing the run may be an issue at times.
Malik Morris-Lakeland (FL) 6’1-230: They say the day of 230 pounds linebackers are over. Morris breaks the mold as he is a BIG Backer. The question with Morris is he able to cover backs and receivers in space? If he is not an every down linebacker that hurts his overall stock. He is someone that can play downhill and stuff the run. He is not easy to run against. He is athletic enough to not be a liability in coverage.
Izayia Williams: Leesburg (FL) 6’1-200 Committed to Syracuse: Williams is a prospect to keep an eye on. He pulled the trigger early for Syracuse. He is someone that is going to draw a ton of interest from college coaches. Williams can run. He is a good enough athlete to come off the edge and rush the passer. He is athletic enough to play in coverage. He is built like a safety but that is the type of backer you see in college football these days. He is much underrated and we expect him to be heavily recruited next fall.
Jordan Campbell: Carol City (FL) 6’2-200 Committed to Miami: Campbell is a hybrid LB/DE. He can stand up and rush the passer. If you look at his frame he is similar to former Seminole Christian Jones. He has size and length. He is someone that can put pressure on the quarterback. He has the speed and quickness to play in space. He has some range. You can have him drop into coverage and play the pass. He is a prospect that you recruit and worry about where to play him once on campus.
Markel Dabney: Hugeunot (VA) 6’1-210: Dabney has been offered. He is a prospect that has played on both sides of the football. We like backers that have also played running back. He will call out the defense. Turn on the film and Dabney is very active on the defensive side of the football. He can blitz and make a big play. He can rush the passer. He can come up and play the run. Dabney is more of a complete backer than some of the prospects listed above.
