FSU Seminoles: Sojourn Shelton
CB Sojourn Shelton picks Wisconsin 
October, 10, 2012
10/10/12
10:42
AM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Four-star cornerback Sojourn Shelton (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation), a one-time Florida State verbal, is now set to play in the Big Ten for Wisconsin, multiple sources report.
According to the Sun-Sentinel, Shelton broke the news by changing his name on his Twitter account to "Badger Boy" and posted, "Committed To The University Of Wisconsin #OnWisconsin."
Shelton, who made an official visit to Wisconsin for the weekend of Aug. 31, later told the Sun-Sentinel in a text message, "It was the right time. [Wisconsin] feels like home. I'm ready to end the recruiting and focus on the rest of the season and school."
According to the Sun-Sentinel, Shelton broke the news by changing his name on his Twitter account to "Badger Boy" and posted, "Committed To The University Of Wisconsin #OnWisconsin."
Shelton, who made an official visit to Wisconsin for the weekend of Aug. 31, later told the Sun-Sentinel in a text message, "It was the right time. [Wisconsin] feels like home. I'm ready to end the recruiting and focus on the rest of the season and school."
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CB Sojourn Shelton: Wisconsin stands out
August, 15, 2012
8/15/12
4:18
PM ET
By coreylong | ESPN.com
Four-star cornerback Sojourn Shelton (Plantation, Fla./Plantation) has had a lot on his plate for the past month. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound senior participated in 'The Opening' and Gridiron Kings in July and raved about both events.
"The Opening was the best experience I've had in my life," Shelton said. "It was truly magical to be out there on the NIKE campus and around all the other prospects.
"Gridiron Kings was a lot of fun too and the fact that we won the whole thing made it better. But just hanging out with guys like Vernon [Hargreaves] and Shaq [Wiggins] was a lot of fun."
"The Opening was the best experience I've had in my life," Shelton said. "It was truly magical to be out there on the NIKE campus and around all the other prospects.
"Gridiron Kings was a lot of fun too and the fact that we won the whole thing made it better. But just hanging out with guys like Vernon [Hargreaves] and Shaq [Wiggins] was a lot of fun."
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ESPN 300 DE Davin Bellamy picks FSU
August, 11, 2012
8/11/12
12:34
PM ET
By
Corey Dowlar and
Kipp Adams | ESPN.com
Davin Bellamy (Chamblee, Ga./Chamblee) has committed to Florida State over finalist Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon.
In a year when the Seminoles need two to three defensive ends, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound four-star ESPN 300 prospect becomes the first.
"The reason I chose Florida State is because I felt that they gave me the best opportunity to make it to the [National Football] League,” Bellamy said. “I am not just saying that that is the most important thing, but a lot of people throw around the Vanderbilt education and stuff, but you can't really compare their education to any other BCS school. Florida State's education isn't so bad either. I think if you get that degree, you can still do a lot with it.
"I wanted to wait to make this decision on the 11th so I could get some recognition to my teammates and the program. I feel like all my hard work has paid off. When you walk into Florida State with all their legendary players, legendary defensive ends. I feel like all my hard work has paid off when a school like that offers me a scholarship. I am real excited to do this because I feel like I am one step closer to my dream and I am ready to make it happen."
Playing time did cross Bellamy's mind once or twice. With a loaded haul at the defensive end position in 2012, he understood there would be competition.
In a year when the Seminoles need two to three defensive ends, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound four-star ESPN 300 prospect becomes the first.
"The reason I chose Florida State is because I felt that they gave me the best opportunity to make it to the [National Football] League,” Bellamy said. “I am not just saying that that is the most important thing, but a lot of people throw around the Vanderbilt education and stuff, but you can't really compare their education to any other BCS school. Florida State's education isn't so bad either. I think if you get that degree, you can still do a lot with it.
"I wanted to wait to make this decision on the 11th so I could get some recognition to my teammates and the program. I feel like all my hard work has paid off. When you walk into Florida State with all their legendary players, legendary defensive ends. I feel like all my hard work has paid off when a school like that offers me a scholarship. I am real excited to do this because I feel like I am one step closer to my dream and I am ready to make it happen."
Playing time did cross Bellamy's mind once or twice. With a loaded haul at the defensive end position in 2012, he understood there would be competition.
Florida State's team RecruitingNation class ranking has fallen for the third consecutive time Thursday.
Since the middle of July, the Seminoles expectedly lost commitments from Maquedius Bain and Sojourn Shelton. Neither was thought to be in the class on the first Wednesday of February, 2013.
But the true reason the class ranking dropped is due to additions by other teams in the rankings.
Clemson moved up from No. 12 to No. 11 and sits immediately ahead of the Seminoles in the pecking order. LSU, too, moved up from 11 to 10.
Both programs have added commitments. Florida State has not.
The Seminoles additions will come, with two prominent names in the mix.
Defensive end Davin Bellamy is set to announce his choice Aug. 11. And top prospects such as outside linebacker Matthew Thomas have Florida State at the top of their list.
Should coach Jimbo Fisher have a successful season on the field this fall, FSU fans can expect this ranking to wind up being much higher when all is said and done.
Since the middle of July, the Seminoles expectedly lost commitments from Maquedius Bain and Sojourn Shelton. Neither was thought to be in the class on the first Wednesday of February, 2013.
But the true reason the class ranking dropped is due to additions by other teams in the rankings.
Clemson moved up from No. 12 to No. 11 and sits immediately ahead of the Seminoles in the pecking order. LSU, too, moved up from 11 to 10.
Both programs have added commitments. Florida State has not.
The Seminoles additions will come, with two prominent names in the mix.
Defensive end Davin Bellamy is set to announce his choice Aug. 11. And top prospects such as outside linebacker Matthew Thomas have Florida State at the top of their list.
Should coach Jimbo Fisher have a successful season on the field this fall, FSU fans can expect this ranking to wind up being much higher when all is said and done.
FSU Weekly Rewind: Green turns salesman
July, 29, 2012
7/29/12
11:14
PM ET
By NoleNation staff | ESPN.com
Every Sunday, NoleNation will take a look back at the week that was around Florida State, recapping the top stories and shedding a little light on a few that might have fallen between the cracks.
1. ESPN 150 RB Ryan Green sells FSU
While at Champion Gridiron Kings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., this weekend, Florida State commit Ryan Green (St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg Catholic) extolled the virtues of playing for the Seminoles to uncommitted players.
"I am trying to get them all on board with 'Nole Nation,' " he told ESPN NoleNation’s Corey Dowlar, saying he targeted LB Matthew Thomas (Miami, Fla./Booker T. Washington) in particular. Thomas has said FSU is atop his list.
The sales pitches aren’t unusual whenever recruits gather at top events or camps. But Green’s determination shows he’s got an eye on the future and is committed to bringing a winning team to Tallahassee.
2. Manuel confident at ACC media days
Seminoles senior quarterback EJ Manuel says high expectations shouldn’t be seen as a negative for this year’s team.
1. ESPN 150 RB Ryan Green sells FSU
While at Champion Gridiron Kings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., this weekend, Florida State commit Ryan Green (St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg Catholic) extolled the virtues of playing for the Seminoles to uncommitted players.
"I am trying to get them all on board with 'Nole Nation,' " he told ESPN NoleNation’s Corey Dowlar, saying he targeted LB Matthew Thomas (Miami, Fla./Booker T. Washington) in particular. Thomas has said FSU is atop his list.
The sales pitches aren’t unusual whenever recruits gather at top events or camps. But Green’s determination shows he’s got an eye on the future and is committed to bringing a winning team to Tallahassee.
2. Manuel confident at ACC media days
Seminoles senior quarterback EJ Manuel says high expectations shouldn’t be seen as a negative for this year’s team.
Rumors have swirled recently that Sojourn Shelton (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation) wasn't completely firm in his commitment to Florida State.
On Tuesday, the four-star defensive back decided to completely open things up.
"I honestly feel like -- with the recruiting and everything, with respect to the Florida State staff -- I have been committed there for a year and you kind of make a pact with these guys because they are going to be your coaches for a while," he began to explain. "I just feel like, with me, I am graduating early and enrolling in January, so I kind of want to make sure it is the best decision that I can make because you can't get that decision back.
On Tuesday, the four-star defensive back decided to completely open things up.
"I honestly feel like -- with the recruiting and everything, with respect to the Florida State staff -- I have been committed there for a year and you kind of make a pact with these guys because they are going to be your coaches for a while," he began to explain. "I just feel like, with me, I am graduating early and enrolling in January, so I kind of want to make sure it is the best decision that I can make because you can't get that decision back.
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Fisher leans on summer camps for signees
July, 17, 2012
7/17/12
7:57
AM ET
By
Corey Dowlar | ESPN.com
Florida State's annual summer camps have been a part of a bigger trend in the Seminoles' recruiting efforts since the arrival of head coach Jimbo Fisher.
The overwhelming majority of signees over the last three seasons have taken part in, or at least attended, Fisher's drills. That is by no accident, either.
Fisher's recruiting philosophy usually mandates his own evaluation on a prospect before the green light is given. Because he can't get out on the road during the fall because of NCAA rules, these camps provide a golden opportunity.
The overwhelming majority of signees over the last three seasons have taken part in, or at least attended, Fisher's drills. That is by no accident, either.
Fisher's recruiting philosophy usually mandates his own evaluation on a prospect before the green light is given. Because he can't get out on the road during the fall because of NCAA rules, these camps provide a golden opportunity.
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Four-star defensive back Sojourn Shelton (Plantation, Fla./Plantation) isn't ready to give up on his commitment to Florida State.
Despite months of rumors to the contrary the 5-foot-9, 155-pound senior says he would love to honor his pledge to play in Tallahassee.
"I committed to FSU because I love the school," Shelton said. "A few things have changed since I was there last so I just need to go back and make sure the coaches still believe in me."
Despite months of rumors to the contrary the 5-foot-9, 155-pound senior says he would love to honor his pledge to play in Tallahassee.
"I committed to FSU because I love the school," Shelton said. "A few things have changed since I was there last so I just need to go back and make sure the coaches still believe in me."
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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.