Florida State was always in the forefront for top running back recruit Ryan Green, and with Signing Day here, Green stayed true to his commitment to be a Seminole.
Ryan Green signs with Florida State
Speedy running back Ryan Green is one of the best at his position in the country, having turned down offers from across the nation to stay close to home at Florida State.
The 5’10 Green runs a 4.42 40, speed that’s made him an elite prospect. He’s considered the No. 3 running back in the nation by both Rivals and ESPN, and is a consensus four-star recruit. When SB Nation recruiting analyst Bud Elliott wrote up the running back’s commitment for Seminoles blog Tomahawk Nation, he gushed about Green’s effortless talent:
It’s that movement that makes Green a special player. You’ll see it in the highlight film later in the article. He’s very fast, but what really makes him a special back is his acceleration. He has a good first step, but with his second step he created this phenomenal burst that you really have to see to believe. Green also doesn’t waste a lot of time dancing. He gets upfield in a hurry. Green is also a true weapon in the passing game.
As for his strength, Eliott wrote that it needs work, but also quoted another recruiting writer who heard a story about Green breaking a running back’s ribs while playing cornerback in practice.
Green’s recruitment wasn’t overly contentious: the St. Petersburg, Fla. native narrowed his choices to Florida State, Florida, and Notre Dame relatively early in his recruiting process, passing up offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, USC, and many more. But even as Elliott caught up with Green at a camp run by FSU coach Jimbo Fisher in June, the recruit said he was still “looking for the right fit.” That said, there was a sense that he’d end up in Tallahassee, and surely enough, when he made his decision just days later, the answer was Florida State.
Green will likely be able to contribute early in Florida State's backfield: although they have several strong backs in the fold, namely sophomores Devonta Freeman and James Wilder, Jr., leading rusher Chris Thompson graduates, and Green certainly appears to have talent to compete for a spot.
Ratings: Rivals, four stars (No. 3 positionally, No. 72 nationally), ESPN, four stars (No. 3 positionally, No. 30 nationally), Scout, four stars (No. 18 positionally)
Vitals: 5’10, 187 pounds, 4.42 40.
Other offers: Notre Dame, Florida
Recruitment timeline: Green’s entire recruiting process is profiled here.
Highlight video:
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