FSU just went through multiple junior days on campus. They had a bunch of big time prospects on campus. The Seminoles class sits at #9th overall in the Rivals team rankings. We will take a look at the prospects FSU has some momentum with and who has faded a bit since the start of this recruiting cycle. Realize there will be players we have in the stock up category that don't sign. We had Ousmah Kromah in the stock down many times a year ago. Recruiting is very fluid. You just don't know how this thing really is going to turn out.
Stock Up
1. CB Chauncey Kennon - (Booker HS-Sarasota, FL) 6'2-170 - Could this recruitment be similar to Charles Lester from two years ago. Lester seemed to be all Seminole throughout the recruiting process. Kennon is from the same area and has already visited a couple of times. He has the size and length the coaches want at corner. We feel the Seminoles are one of the top teams on his radar.
2. QB Landon Duckworth - (Jackson HS-Jackson, AL) 6'3-190-FSU needs a QB and it seems like Duckworth is at the top of the list. Good thing Malzahn has a prior relationship with Duckworth as you know my feelings about kids from Alabama. FSU still has to fight off home town Auburn. This looks like the guy FSU can pull in. If not the list to starts to shrink.
3. LB Adam Balogoun-Ali - (Cardinal Newman HS-West Palm Beach) 6'2-200-I believe he has been on campus multiple time. One of Ali first offers was from FSU. It seems he really likes FSU. When he speaks about FSU it seems like he is already part of the family. I like where FSU sits at this time. Things change but FSU has done a very good job in his recruitment.
4. WR Calvin Russell - (Miami Northwestern HS-Miami, FL) 6'5-200 - In a recent interview Russell said he wanted to leave Miami to play college football. This is big news as UM usually has a stronghold on Miami Northwestern players. FSU has landed Trevor Ford, Clifton Dickson, Snoop Minnis and Marvin Jones out of Northwestern. It has been awhile since they had a prospect FSU wanted and landed. Russell is an elite WR prospect.
5. Ath Daylen Green - (Gadsden County HS-Havana, FL) 6'2-185 - He has been offered by FSU and is a target they would like to land. The only issues with kids from that program and some of them have a certain mentor who steers their kids away from FSU. I think the new DC Tony White could make a breakthrough. You have to keep the top athletes home. Green is one of the best players in the Panhandle this season.
Stock Down
1. WR Kaiden Protho - (Bowdon HS- Bowdon, GA) 6'6-210 - Things can change quickly but right now Protho seems like a bit of a long shot. He is listed as a receiver but we could see this kid end up at tight end. He reminds me of Kellen Winslow Jr. Like with Winslow Jr, Protho started out as a receiver but ended up a tight end. Protho should be a five star on every network.
2. WR Somourian Wingo - (St Augustine HS -Saint Augustine, FL) Wingo was an early offer. Not sure if the Seminoles got him on campus this spring. He seems to be real quiet regarding FSU. He is one of the top receivers in Florida but right now I have the Seminoles looking on the outside.
3. TE Evan Jacobson - (Waukee HS-Waukee, IA) 6'7-220 - He camped at FSU last summer. Got to meet the kid and came away very impressed. He was not 100 percent at the camp (knee injury) but Jacobson looks like all the tight ends who come out of University of Iowa. If FSU was in the Big 10, I could see them possibly pulling this one. Anything is possible but with schools like Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio State all up in the mid-west, I don't see how FSU pulls this one out. Stranger things have happened but right now FSU looks like a longshot.
4. DE Jake Kreul - (IMG Academy-Bradenton, FL) 6'3-230-FSU offered him early. I really like Kreul and think the kid can be a very good defensive end in college. He is a poor man’s version of Nick Bosa. Looks like him a little bit coming out of high school. He is not the biggest and that is one concern we have is how much bigger will Jake get? He just plays with a high end motor and you can't argue with his production.
5. RB Javian Mallory - (West Boca HS-Boca Raton, FL) 5'11-200-FSU offered him last year. Mallory is a very good back. My only concern right now is Mallory has not missed parts of the playoffs the past two seasons with injuries. He already is starting to get wear and tear. He is a very good running back but Mallory needs to make it through a season. I have seen other running backs like him have these issues before high school and it did not work out well for them.
Stock stayed the same
1. Ath. Derrek Cooper - 6'1-200 (Chaminade Madonna-Hollywood, FL) This time last year Cooper was an unknown. After his performance at the UA camp, Cooper showed up on the radar in a big way. He is one of if not the best prospect in the state of Florida this year. He was going to commit to FSU. He was also going to commit to Ohio State and Georgia. FSU is in the ball game and that is all you can ask for.
2. QB Bowe Bentley - 6'2-200 (Celina HS-Celina, TX) 6'2-200- FSU has offered. He is one of their targets at quarterback. QB's usually decide between now and June before their senior season. The next two months will tell us more about his recruitment. We feel Duckworth is the number one target. Bentley is A target.
3. Corbyn Fordham - (The Bolles School Jacksonville, FL) 6'4-215 - Fordham committed to Ohio State in the past month. I believe he visited FSU after. He is a legacy kid and it seems like these things always trend away from FSU. Ohio State does not really use their tight ends. I feel if FSU can show anything positive on offense early in the season, Fordham could switch his commitment.
4. DE Jarius Rodgers - (Fleming Island-Orange Park, FL) 6'5-200-Rodgers committed to Syracuse. He has since visited FSU. He was on campus last summer for their summer camp. He has size and length. He reminds me of Gregory Rousseau. He is big, long and athletic. He needs to fill out his frame as Rodgers only weighs 200 pounds at this time.
5. DE Trenton Henderson (Pensacola Catholic-Pensacola, FL) 6'4-225-FSU needs defensive ends. Henderson could be the top defensive end prospect on the board. He is a kid that is listed as a five star on Rivals. That 5th star may pump up his value (NIL). You would like him to probably be listed as a four star as now the kid will think he is worth more than he should be. Henderson needs to be a target. He is basically local and a major position of need. If FSU is going to compete and win titles they need to hit on (QB, OT, Elite WR, DE, DT, and CB). Those are the money positions.
Final Thoughts: Maybe it is just me, but I feel more confident in this group of coaches recruiting abilities. Just seems like they are on more prospects this year and the feedback from them is much more positive coming off these junior days. It is key in recruiting to get these players on campus 3x in my opinion before the summer. Do that and you have a very good chance to land a kid. Look at Ousmah Kromah. FSU was able to continue to get him on campus and chisel away in his recruitment. I expect FSU to have a much better class in 2026. Now they just need to get it done on the field.
Stock Up
1. CB Chauncey Kennon - (Booker HS-Sarasota, FL) 6'2-170 - Could this recruitment be similar to Charles Lester from two years ago. Lester seemed to be all Seminole throughout the recruiting process. Kennon is from the same area and has already visited a couple of times. He has the size and length the coaches want at corner. We feel the Seminoles are one of the top teams on his radar.
2. QB Landon Duckworth - (Jackson HS-Jackson, AL) 6'3-190-FSU needs a QB and it seems like Duckworth is at the top of the list. Good thing Malzahn has a prior relationship with Duckworth as you know my feelings about kids from Alabama. FSU still has to fight off home town Auburn. This looks like the guy FSU can pull in. If not the list to starts to shrink.
3. LB Adam Balogoun-Ali - (Cardinal Newman HS-West Palm Beach) 6'2-200-I believe he has been on campus multiple time. One of Ali first offers was from FSU. It seems he really likes FSU. When he speaks about FSU it seems like he is already part of the family. I like where FSU sits at this time. Things change but FSU has done a very good job in his recruitment.
4. WR Calvin Russell - (Miami Northwestern HS-Miami, FL) 6'5-200 - In a recent interview Russell said he wanted to leave Miami to play college football. This is big news as UM usually has a stronghold on Miami Northwestern players. FSU has landed Trevor Ford, Clifton Dickson, Snoop Minnis and Marvin Jones out of Northwestern. It has been awhile since they had a prospect FSU wanted and landed. Russell is an elite WR prospect.
5. Ath Daylen Green - (Gadsden County HS-Havana, FL) 6'2-185 - He has been offered by FSU and is a target they would like to land. The only issues with kids from that program and some of them have a certain mentor who steers their kids away from FSU. I think the new DC Tony White could make a breakthrough. You have to keep the top athletes home. Green is one of the best players in the Panhandle this season.
Stock Down
1. WR Kaiden Protho - (Bowdon HS- Bowdon, GA) 6'6-210 - Things can change quickly but right now Protho seems like a bit of a long shot. He is listed as a receiver but we could see this kid end up at tight end. He reminds me of Kellen Winslow Jr. Like with Winslow Jr, Protho started out as a receiver but ended up a tight end. Protho should be a five star on every network.
2. WR Somourian Wingo - (St Augustine HS -Saint Augustine, FL) Wingo was an early offer. Not sure if the Seminoles got him on campus this spring. He seems to be real quiet regarding FSU. He is one of the top receivers in Florida but right now I have the Seminoles looking on the outside.
3. TE Evan Jacobson - (Waukee HS-Waukee, IA) 6'7-220 - He camped at FSU last summer. Got to meet the kid and came away very impressed. He was not 100 percent at the camp (knee injury) but Jacobson looks like all the tight ends who come out of University of Iowa. If FSU was in the Big 10, I could see them possibly pulling this one. Anything is possible but with schools like Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio State all up in the mid-west, I don't see how FSU pulls this one out. Stranger things have happened but right now FSU looks like a longshot.
4. DE Jake Kreul - (IMG Academy-Bradenton, FL) 6'3-230-FSU offered him early. I really like Kreul and think the kid can be a very good defensive end in college. He is a poor man’s version of Nick Bosa. Looks like him a little bit coming out of high school. He is not the biggest and that is one concern we have is how much bigger will Jake get? He just plays with a high end motor and you can't argue with his production.
5. RB Javian Mallory - (West Boca HS-Boca Raton, FL) 5'11-200-FSU offered him last year. Mallory is a very good back. My only concern right now is Mallory has not missed parts of the playoffs the past two seasons with injuries. He already is starting to get wear and tear. He is a very good running back but Mallory needs to make it through a season. I have seen other running backs like him have these issues before high school and it did not work out well for them.
Stock stayed the same
1. Ath. Derrek Cooper - 6'1-200 (Chaminade Madonna-Hollywood, FL) This time last year Cooper was an unknown. After his performance at the UA camp, Cooper showed up on the radar in a big way. He is one of if not the best prospect in the state of Florida this year. He was going to commit to FSU. He was also going to commit to Ohio State and Georgia. FSU is in the ball game and that is all you can ask for.
2. QB Bowe Bentley - 6'2-200 (Celina HS-Celina, TX) 6'2-200- FSU has offered. He is one of their targets at quarterback. QB's usually decide between now and June before their senior season. The next two months will tell us more about his recruitment. We feel Duckworth is the number one target. Bentley is A target.
3. Corbyn Fordham - (The Bolles School Jacksonville, FL) 6'4-215 - Fordham committed to Ohio State in the past month. I believe he visited FSU after. He is a legacy kid and it seems like these things always trend away from FSU. Ohio State does not really use their tight ends. I feel if FSU can show anything positive on offense early in the season, Fordham could switch his commitment.
4. DE Jarius Rodgers - (Fleming Island-Orange Park, FL) 6'5-200-Rodgers committed to Syracuse. He has since visited FSU. He was on campus last summer for their summer camp. He has size and length. He reminds me of Gregory Rousseau. He is big, long and athletic. He needs to fill out his frame as Rodgers only weighs 200 pounds at this time.
5. DE Trenton Henderson (Pensacola Catholic-Pensacola, FL) 6'4-225-FSU needs defensive ends. Henderson could be the top defensive end prospect on the board. He is a kid that is listed as a five star on Rivals. That 5th star may pump up his value (NIL). You would like him to probably be listed as a four star as now the kid will think he is worth more than he should be. Henderson needs to be a target. He is basically local and a major position of need. If FSU is going to compete and win titles they need to hit on (QB, OT, Elite WR, DE, DT, and CB). Those are the money positions.
Final Thoughts: Maybe it is just me, but I feel more confident in this group of coaches recruiting abilities. Just seems like they are on more prospects this year and the feedback from them is much more positive coming off these junior days. It is key in recruiting to get these players on campus 3x in my opinion before the summer. Do that and you have a very good chance to land a kid. Look at Ousmah Kromah. FSU was able to continue to get him on campus and chisel away in his recruitment. I expect FSU to have a much better class in 2026. Now they just need to get it done on the field.
