Florida State Football Recruiting: ‘Noles Keeping Commitments Home

Northrup stands 6’2” and weighs 215 pounds. He’s an active linebacker with good speed and power for his size. Northrup also held offers from North Carolina, Arkansas, Auburn, Notre Dame, South Carolina and Tennessee. Nothrup will need some coaching and some work in the weight room. He’s not an elite prospect, but should still be considered a very good pickup for the Seminoles.

The 2012 cycle was almost bereft of linebacker talent in the state. Northrup would have been able to play right away and possibly start at Miami. That will not be the case at Florida State, and it makes this flip all the more impressive. .

This Florida State football recruiting National Signing Day 2012 preview is provided courtesy of Tomahawk Nation, SB Nation’s excellent Florida State site. Visit Tomahawk Nation for all of your FSU recruiting needs. Away from the computer tomorrow? Sign up for Tomahawk Nation’s free Florida State National Signing Day text message alerts!

Looking at the list of commitments, FSU appears to be taking a who’s who from the prep ranks. Headlined by five-star quarterback Jameis Winston and five-star defensive end Mario Edwards Jr., FSU currently has 16 commitments and easily the best class in the ACC. Amazingly, of the non-kicker/punter high school commitments, as of today, the Noles have a total of nine ESPNU 150 players, with a possibility of adding as many as five more to that haul.

National Signing Day (February 1) is shaping up to be a bit anticlimactic for the Florida State Seminoles. Yes, the ‘Noles are in position to sign a few of the nation’s top uncommitted recruits, but the biggest news of the recruiting season seems to be happening this week.

On Friday, Florida State defensive end commitment Dante Fowler confirmed, via multiple reports, that his recruitment is over. This is big news, as the five-star defensive end from Lakewood (Fla.) High School had made no less than three trips to Gainesville while being committed to FSU. He would give one story to one reporter, and then a completely different story to another. Fowler was reportedly concerned about the Florida State depth chart, as the ‘Noles already feature two All-America candidates in Brandon Jenkins and Bjoern Werner, as well as two other five-star defensive end recruits in Chris Casher and Mario Edwards Jr., who confirmed earlier this week that he too would stick with his commitment to the Seminoles.

“He committed yesterday, to coach Trickett to be exact. He can’t want to get on campus and get started as he knows he has catching up to do. He played two years for me at the Canarias Basketball Academy in Spain. He was my team captain and one of the best kids I’ve ever been around. Coach Trickett told him the difference between his first and last game at Saddleback was amazing. Jimbo was out there to see him as well, and felt the same way (that the physical set Menelik had, very few people in All of football had!),” said Rob Orellana, Watson’s basketball coach and close friend from his playing days in Spain.Head to Tomahawk Nation for more on Watson for Florida State recruiting!

Louis stars for Miami Beach High School. He is 6’2”, 205 pounds. The four major recruiting services rate him four-stars and most have him as one of the top 200 players in the country. Louis holds offers from 15 BCS teams.

Louis is an explosive athlete with an impressive vertical leap. He lacks track speed, but has excellent body control. He is very quick and hits his top speed immediately. Louis is a very aggressive player and a special athlete. He’s raw as a receiver, but has all the physical tools. Louis is also capable of playing defensive back.

Colin Blake, a talented defensive back recruit from San Antonio Brandeis High School, has decommitted from the Texas A&M Aggies. Blake released this statement from his public Facebook page:

”I will no longer be playing football at Texas A&M next year. I hope all the aggie fans and supporters out there can respect my decision and understand that it’s my life and I need to do whats best for me. God bless.“Blake had committed to Texas A&M on September 3rd, 2011, but his commitment was to since-fired Mike Sherman’s staff.

Josh Harvey-Clemons of Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes is arguably the top player in the Peach State. The 6-foot-5”, 200-pound outside linebacker is a playmaking machine who lined up all over the field in high school. The national recruiting services rate him between four and five stars.

”Coach Richt and Coach Grantham said the same things: They need Josh in the ‘Sam’ linebacker position. With his frame and his speed, he’s the perfect fit for that scheme. They said he could go to the next level at that position. And they said he could come to Georgia and compete for playing time as a freshman.“Clemons is supposed to take his official visit to Florida State this weekend. Most Florida State insiders do not believe the ‘Noles have a real chance to land the Valdosta linebacker. But that he’s taking the official visit says FSU is not completely out of the picture.

Louis stars for Miami Beach High School. He is 6’2”, 205 pounds. The four major recruiting services rate him four-stars and most have him as one of the top 200 players in the country. Louis holds offers from 15 BCS teams. Florida State had its eye on Louis for a while, and for good reason. Auburn is still without an offensive coordinator as well, which certainly did not help the Tigers’ chances of keeping Louis.

Louis is an explosive athlete with an impressive vertical leap. He lacks track speed, but has excellent body control. He is very quick and hits his top speed immediately. Louis is a very aggressive player and a special athlete. He’s raw as a receiver, but has all the physical tools. Louis is also capable of playing defensive back.

Florida State had a disappointing year on the field, missing out on the ACC championship game and finishing with a 9-4 record. But that hasn’t slowed down the Seminoles on the recruiting trail. Florida State has fifteen commitments, and is looking at add as many as seven more. The ‘Noles could have as many as 14 commitments come to Tallahassee this weekend.

One such player visiting the ‘Noles is defensive end Leonard Williams. Florida State has offered Williams, but it’s undetermined whether FSU actually has room to take him. Williams is one of the best defensive ends in the country, but the ‘Noles already have commitments from three of the top six defensive ends in the country.