FSU Seminoles: Football Recruiting
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- ESPN 150 outside linebacker Jacob Pugh (Tallahassee, Fla./Godby) has aspirations to play in the NFL, just like many players his age. Regardless of where his football career takes him, this 6-foot-4, 220-pound athlete has another dream that he plans to fulfill.
"I want to own my own trucking company," Pugh said. "For one, my uncle had a trucking business for a long time. A couple people that go to my church are truck drivers. They just talk to me about what they do and it seems fun and interesting. It's something I'd really like to do.
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The plans for Indianapolis Pike receiver Dominique Booth are changing again.
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Florida State might not have known the whole story on defensive end Harold Landry (Fayetteville, N.C./Pine Forest) when they visited his school recently.
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With his announcement set for Friday, four-star wide receiver Dominique Booth (Indianpolis/Pike) trimmed his list one more time this week.
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Each week, Tales From The Road will provide news updates about where FSU coaches are visiting and what prospects are standing out.
This week's targets: Wide receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey is expected to make an extended stop in the Tampa area this week. Prospects like Artavis Scott (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake), Ryan Davis (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast) and George Campbell (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake) will likely get visits. Running back Jacques Patrick, a 2015 target, said Florida State has visited already.
Area of interest: The state of Florida. With spring games coming up, and the evaluation period hitting the home stretch, Florida State will try to make as much noise as possible in its home state. The Noles will see a bunch of prospects in person and continue to debate whether to offer a prospect or not. The stakes, of course, are higher in the home state because teams won't offer unless they mean it.
This week's targets: Wide receivers coach Lawrence Dawsey is expected to make an extended stop in the Tampa area this week. Prospects like Artavis Scott (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake), Ryan Davis (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast) and George Campbell (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake) will likely get visits. Running back Jacques Patrick, a 2015 target, said Florida State has visited already.
Area of interest: The state of Florida. With spring games coming up, and the evaluation period hitting the home stretch, Florida State will try to make as much noise as possible in its home state. The Noles will see a bunch of prospects in person and continue to debate whether to offer a prospect or not. The stakes, of course, are higher in the home state because teams won't offer unless they mean it.
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LSU and Ohio State were the top two for ESPN 150 wide receiver Saeed Blacknall. Now the two are bookends for the Manalapan (N.J.) High School star's top five.
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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Justus Reed (Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater Central Catholic) had himself quite a run in early May.
In the span of about 10 days, the defensive end prospect landed offers from Ohio State, Florida State, NC State, Cincinnati, Iowa State and Michigan State.
In the span of about 10 days, the defensive end prospect landed offers from Ohio State, Florida State, NC State, Cincinnati, Iowa State and Michigan State.
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4-star ATH Nicholson prepares for visits 
May, 21, 2013
May 21
2:30
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
Not much has developed recently in the recruitment of four-star athlete Montae Nicholson (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway), but that figures to change in the coming weeks.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver/safety has not made too many recent recruiting visits, but he will begin doing that this summer before working toward a decision.
“I’m in the same place except it’s closer to summer, so I’ll take a bunch of unofficial visits and see which ones are best for me,” Nicholson said, “and then as soon as I can take my officials I will and my decision will be after I take my officials.”
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver/safety has not made too many recent recruiting visits, but he will begin doing that this summer before working toward a decision.
“I’m in the same place except it’s closer to summer, so I’ll take a bunch of unofficial visits and see which ones are best for me,” Nicholson said, “and then as soon as I can take my officials I will and my decision will be after I take my officials.”
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Florida State's wide receiver corps are in good shape entering 2013, as WR is arguably the Seminoles' strongest position group.
But at some point, this group is going to have to be restocked and retooled. And the 2014 recruiting cycle is a good place to start.
The Seminoles will take a handful in the Class of 2014.
But at some point, this group is going to have to be restocked and retooled. And the 2014 recruiting cycle is a good place to start.
The Seminoles will take a handful in the Class of 2014.
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PERRY, Fla. -- When former Florida State defensive ends coach D.J. Eliot left to take the defensive coordinator position at Kentucky, four-star wide receiver Moral Stephens (Perry, Fla./Taylor County) was caught off guard.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Stephens had built a strong relationship with Eliot, and his departure affected the recruitment of Stephens.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Stephens had built a strong relationship with Eliot, and his departure affected the recruitment of Stephens.
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With basketball season over, the No. 1 prospect in Florida can finally hit the road to check out some college campuses. The No. 12 overall prospect in the ESPN 150 David Sharpe (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence School) has no shortage of options to choose from.
During spring break, Sharpe visited in-state Florida and Florida State. Over the weekend, he spent time at two out-of-state programs. Sharpe got to Clemson on Friday morning and stayed there until Saturday morning. He then spent the rest of the day in Athens, Ga., before visiting with some family in Georgia.
During spring break, Sharpe visited in-state Florida and Florida State. Over the weekend, he spent time at two out-of-state programs. Sharpe got to Clemson on Friday morning and stayed there until Saturday morning. He then spent the rest of the day in Athens, Ga., before visiting with some family in Georgia.
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An established two-way prospect, Kendall Sawyer (Lehigh Acres, Fla./East Lee County) is being pursued by colleges on both sides of the ball.
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HUEYTOWN, Ala. -- College coaches from across the country came to see ESPN 150 running back Racean Thomas (Oxford, Ala./Oxford) this spring, but it was the usual suspects -- Alabama and Auburn -- who were in attendance for his spring game on Saturday night.
The Alabama native didn’t disappoint. In two quarters of action, Thomas rushed seven times for 124 yards and two touchdowns. He took his first carry 73 yards for a score.
With that type of performance, it’s no surprise that new schools continue to enter the mix.
The Alabama native didn’t disappoint. In two quarters of action, Thomas rushed seven times for 124 yards and two touchdowns. He took his first carry 73 yards for a score.
With that type of performance, it’s no surprise that new schools continue to enter the mix.
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Markell Pack (Purvis, Miss./Purvis) has been high on the Seminoles board for quite a while. So when he committed to Florida State late Saturday night, it was not a surprise that the Florida State coaches were a happy group.
New assistant coach Tim Brewster was the first to get the news Sunday morning.
"I decided to do it last night and when we talked this morning, they were pretty fired up," Pack said.
During the recruiting process, it was Brewster's candid approach that really hooked Pack.
"He's just straight up with me," said Pack, who holds offers from Georgia, Ole Miss and Mississippi State amongst others.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound receiver is versatile given his size. He'll be able to do a lot of things at the next level, whether in the slot or out wide.
And from his perspective, he thinks he'll enter the offense as a good match.
"I just really like what they've got going," he said. "I think I'll fit in great."
Pack joins J.C. Jackson (Immokalee, Fla./Immokalee), JoJo Robinson (Miami/Northwestern) and C.J. Worton (Homestead, Fla./South Dade) as the other wide receivers in Florida State’s 2014 class.
Pack, who ranks as a four-star prospect, is the tenth commitment for the Seminoles in this class.
RB McKenzie preparing to cut list to seven
May, 17, 2013
May 17
12:30
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
At the end of the March, Washington (Pa.) High running back Shai McKenzie cut his list of more than 30 offers to 15. He's just about ready to snip that list in half once again.
The 5-foot-11, 212-pound back is looking to name a top seven soon, most likely after summer trips to Georgia, Georgia Tech and possibly Florida State. He knows two teams that are in great shape to make the cut already.
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ABOUT NOLE NATION
David Hale
David Hale joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering the Philadelphia Phillies for The News Journal in Wilmington, Del., and the University of Georgia for The Macon (Ga.) Telegraph. Hale has written about college and professional sports since 2004. He currently lives in Tallahassee, Fla., and can be reached at davidmhale@gmail.com.
Corey Dowlar
Corey Dowlar joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering Florida State and South Florida athletics for 247Sports.com and Rivals.com. Dowlar has written about Florida State sports and recruiting since 2007. He currently lives in Clearwater, Fla., and can be reached at cdowlar@gmail.com.