FSU Seminoles: Dameyune Craig
When Malachi Dupre (River Ridge, La./John Curtis Christian) was initially offered by Florida State, it came from a coach who is no longer on staff. Dameyune Craig, now an assistant at Auburn, has since moved on.
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Jameis Winston's ascent to Florida State's heir apparent at quarterback, and Clint Trickett's subsequent transfer from the program, have changed things for the Seminoles' recruiting tactics at the position for 2014.
J.J. Cosentino is the first and only commitment for Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher at quarterback so far. But FSU very well could take two.
So who will be the second?
Targets
J.J. Cosentino (Pittsburgh/Central Catholic), 6-foot-5, 220 pounds
J.J. Cosentino is the first and only commitment for Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher at quarterback so far. But FSU very well could take two.
So who will be the second?
Targets
J.J. Cosentino (Pittsburgh/Central Catholic), 6-foot-5, 220 pounds
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Jackson gets a good impression from new staff 
January, 15, 2013
Jan 15
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Corey Dowlar | ESPN.com
Arshad Jackson (Lovejoy, Ga./Lovejoy), an undeclared tight end prospect, was in Tallahassee over the weekend to reacquaint himself with the Seminoles football program. And in a lot of ways, it was like hitting the reset button.
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DE Bellamy reacts to Craig's departure
January, 3, 2013
Jan 3
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Corey Dowlar | ESPN.com
ESPN 300 defensive end Davin Bellamy (Chamblee, Ga./Chamblee) found out before just about everyone.
About an hour before the news broke that Florida State assistant coach, and Bellamy's primary recruiter, Dameyune Craig was headed to Auburn, Bellamy got the call from the coach himself explaining the situation.
"I definitely understand, and I told him good luck," Bellamy said. "He told me that they are going to come at me hard once he gets to Auburn and gets set up."
Though Craig insists he will continue to recruit Bellamy once at Auburn, the four-star prospect said it could be a "bad fit" for him there. Five-star defensive end Carl Lawson (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton) already is committed to Auburn, along with four-star Tashawn Bower (Somerville, N.J./Immaculata), Bellamy did cite "politics" as a hold up.
But there is some curiosity, admittedly.
"I would say it opens my eyes a little," he said, "but my heart is still at FSU."
With the departure of defensive ends coach D.J. Eliot to Kentucky, too, Bellamy's relationships with assistant coaches at Florida State are a shell of what they used to be.
New assistants Jeremy Pruitt and Sal Sunseri both knew of Bellamy while they were at Alabama and Tennessee, respectively, but neither offered. Meeting them and getting to see how he would fit is a major priority for Bellamy.
The contact period opens again on Friday, and Bellamy would like nothing more than to hear from the Seminoles coaches.
"I want to see if they really want me, or are they just happy that I am already on the roster," he said. "I would like to see how much they talk to me then, because I think that will show how much they want me. If they really wanted me still, they will try to keep me from jumping ship."
Bellamy committed to Florida State on Aug. 11, choosing the Noles over Vanderbilt. He has official visits set for Tennessee on Jan. 18 and Virginia Tech on Jan. 25.
About an hour before the news broke that Florida State assistant coach, and Bellamy's primary recruiter, Dameyune Craig was headed to Auburn, Bellamy got the call from the coach himself explaining the situation.
"I definitely understand, and I told him good luck," Bellamy said. "He told me that they are going to come at me hard once he gets to Auburn and gets set up."
Though Craig insists he will continue to recruit Bellamy once at Auburn, the four-star prospect said it could be a "bad fit" for him there. Five-star defensive end Carl Lawson (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton) already is committed to Auburn, along with four-star Tashawn Bower (Somerville, N.J./Immaculata), Bellamy did cite "politics" as a hold up.
But there is some curiosity, admittedly.
"I would say it opens my eyes a little," he said, "but my heart is still at FSU."
With the departure of defensive ends coach D.J. Eliot to Kentucky, too, Bellamy's relationships with assistant coaches at Florida State are a shell of what they used to be.
New assistants Jeremy Pruitt and Sal Sunseri both knew of Bellamy while they were at Alabama and Tennessee, respectively, but neither offered. Meeting them and getting to see how he would fit is a major priority for Bellamy.
The contact period opens again on Friday, and Bellamy would like nothing more than to hear from the Seminoles coaches.
"I want to see if they really want me, or are they just happy that I am already on the roster," he said. "I would like to see how much they talk to me then, because I think that will show how much they want me. If they really wanted me still, they will try to keep me from jumping ship."
Bellamy committed to Florida State on Aug. 11, choosing the Noles over Vanderbilt. He has official visits set for Tennessee on Jan. 18 and Virginia Tech on Jan. 25.
Hoefeld enjoying relationship with coaches
November, 16, 2012
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Corey Dowlar | ESPN.com
Due to his busy schedule -- and distance from Tallahassee -- Ryan Hoefeld (New Orleans/Brother Martin) can't get to Florida State games as much as he'd like to.
That's fine, though. Just last week, the Seminoles came to see him.
"It was actually pretty cool. It is kind of hard for me to get out there. I try to get out there as much as I can, but it is definitely cool to see Coach [Dameyune] Craig to take some time to come out there and see me. Especially since they got in at like 4 a.m. from the game and he just came straight from there to New Orleans."
That's fine, though. Just last week, the Seminoles came to see him.
"It was actually pretty cool. It is kind of hard for me to get out there. I try to get out there as much as I can, but it is definitely cool to see Coach [Dameyune] Craig to take some time to come out there and see me. Especially since they got in at like 4 a.m. from the game and he just came straight from there to New Orleans."
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Johnson a regular on FSU's sideline
October, 30, 2012
10/30/12
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Corey Dowlar | ESPN.com
There isn't too much room to doubt De'Andre Johnson's commitment to Florida State.
Perhaps more than any other player, committed or not in any classification, the 2015 quarterback has been on the sidelines and on campus of Florida State all fall long. Saturday was no different, of course.
Taking in the lopsided win over Duke, Johnson was happy to see how the Seminoles offense wasted little time in dismissing the then-ACC Coastal Division leaders.
Perhaps more than any other player, committed or not in any classification, the 2015 quarterback has been on the sidelines and on campus of Florida State all fall long. Saturday was no different, of course.
Taking in the lopsided win over Duke, Johnson was happy to see how the Seminoles offense wasted little time in dismissing the then-ACC Coastal Division leaders.
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Nick Glass (Atlanta/St. Pius X), a Georgia commitment, made his way down to Tallahassee this past weekend to take in Florida State's showdown with Clemson.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound safety picked a good one to go to as the Seminoles came out on top of a 47-39 thriller.
"I loved it," Glass said. "Everything about it."
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound safety picked a good one to go to as the Seminoles came out on top of a 47-39 thriller.
"I loved it," Glass said. "Everything about it."
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First FSU game blows away Ryan Hoefeld
September, 25, 2012
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Corey Dowlar | ESPN.com
Ryan Hoefeld's knowledge of Doak Campbell Stadium used to be limited to a giant brick structure capable of holding tens of thousands of fans on any given Saturday.
A Seminoles commitment who pledged in early July, the 6-foot-3 center from New Orleans Brother Martin attended the Jimbo Fisher Camp during the summer and saw all the facilities. But they were empty.
Potential met reality Saturday night. Eighty-thousand-plus fans packed Florida State's stadium for a top-10 showdown between the Seminoles and the 10th-ranked Clemson Tigers.
A Seminoles commitment who pledged in early July, the 6-foot-3 center from New Orleans Brother Martin attended the Jimbo Fisher Camp during the summer and saw all the facilities. But they were empty.
Potential met reality Saturday night. Eighty-thousand-plus fans packed Florida State's stadium for a top-10 showdown between the Seminoles and the 10th-ranked Clemson Tigers.
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THOMSON, Ga. -- The Golden Lions of St. Pius X came up short against the Thomson Bulldogs 21-14 in the first ever meeting of the two Class AAA powers. The game featured three lead changes, four turnovers and one stellar effort from St. Pius X cornerback Nicholas Ruffin.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound junior was everywhere. He and the Golden Lions secondary held Thomson to just two completions through the air for 18 yards. On offense, Ruffin had seven carries for 40 yards and he hauled in two passes for 50 yards. He was on special teams and might as well have been running the concession stand, ticket booth and scoreboard. His potential at multiple positions has attracted top FBS schools.
“I have offers from Florida State, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Tennessee,” Ruffin said. “A lot of colleges are looking at me as a defensive back and some see me as a wide receiver. None so far at running back but hopefully they will come through. I will just keep working until that point.”
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound junior was everywhere. He and the Golden Lions secondary held Thomson to just two completions through the air for 18 yards. On offense, Ruffin had seven carries for 40 yards and he hauled in two passes for 50 yards. He was on special teams and might as well have been running the concession stand, ticket booth and scoreboard. His potential at multiple positions has attracted top FBS schools.
“I have offers from Florida State, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Tennessee,” Ruffin said. “A lot of colleges are looking at me as a defensive back and some see me as a wide receiver. None so far at running back but hopefully they will come through. I will just keep working until that point.”
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A.J. Bush (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton) is the centerpiece of an offense that, on paper, should be able to compete with anyone in the state.
After a long summer, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback couldn't be happier to have the season under way to try his hand at directing the offense.
"It is exciting," he said. "Everyone is excited, the school is excited, the coaches are excited and everyone is just trying to work hard. We just want to get to the wins.
After a long summer, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback couldn't be happier to have the season under way to try his hand at directing the offense.
"It is exciting," he said. "Everyone is excited, the school is excited, the coaches are excited and everyone is just trying to work hard. We just want to get to the wins.
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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.