Leon McQuay Swaps FSU For Michigan After Wolverines Push For Commitment

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Leon McQuay III of Seffner (Fla.) Armwood High School is rated as one of the better defensive backs in the country. He is a consensus four-star recruit and holds more than 20 offers. After working out in anticipation of pool play during the Gridiron Kings event, McQuay spoke with SB Nation about where his recruitment stands.

The star safety recently changed up his top three schools, removing Michigan and adding Florida State to Vanderbilt and USC.

“Michigan wanted me to commit, and I wasn’t ready,” McQuay said. “They said that if I didn’t commit by this weekend, they weren’t sure they’d have a spot for me by the time I was ready,” he added.

With so many recruits committing early, I asked McQuay if he feels pressured to commit.

“Not really. I know I can play and the teams and recruiters that really want me will hold a spot for me,” McQuay said.

The new school in the picture is Florida State.

“It’s close. It’s the state school. I like their coaches, and their defensive coordinator, Mark Stoops,” McQuay said.

Though McQuay and his father denied it, Vanderbilt is thought to be McQuay’s leader by many who follow recruiting.

“Vanderbilt has a great coaching staff and great academics,” McQuay said. He added that Nashville is not too far away from home for him or his parents.

USC still remains in the picture, though it is unknown if a spot remains in the Trojans’ class, which has been reduced in size by NCAA sanctions.

Not surprisingly, McQuay cited the Trojans’ coaching staff and academics. Those are the two most important factors in his recruitment.

McQuay does not want to be a recruit who commits first and takes visits second. He wants to make a single decision after visiting the schools on his list.

A visit to Vanderbilt happened earlier this spring, and McQuay is not sure if he’ll make it back up to Nashville before he decides in late November.

He visited Florida State as a junior for a track meet, but wants to get back up to Tallahassee. A visit to Los Angeles to see Southern Cal is also in the works. McQuay said that would likely be an official visit.