FSU Seminoles

Florida State will host their final large group of official visitors this weekend as the stretch run continues to get closer and closer. Here is a breakdown of who is expected on campus.

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Florida State's Class of 2009 lacked the star power of the last three years and eventually became a mixed bag of success and disappointment.

At the top of the class were top players at their position -- defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel and Greg Reid. And while McDaniel's career hasn't finished yet, there is a feeling of dissatisfaction for both.

Reid's career was full of highs and lows, much like the way he played. He produced huge, highlight-reel plays that impacted wins, but was also on the wrong end of some big missed assignments.

He was a major factor on the football field and his return abilities were missed. Then his career was cut short when he was removed from the team due to off-field issues which left Seminoles fans wondering what could have been with another year.

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Let's face it, things weren't going great for Florida State of late on the recruiting trail. Well, up until Monday night, anyway.

Amidst all of the turmoil that comes with multiple coaching changes -- and the loss of top recruiters at that -- the Seminoles had slipped a little bit. The class wasn't in a position to be in the top five, to which FSU fans have become accustomed in the last few years.

Florida State needed something big, something unexpected and something positive.

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Florida State picked up its seventh commitment towards the Class of 2014 when Delvin Purifoy (Pensacola, Fla./Catholic) chose the Seminoles on Thursday.

Purifoy, who had offers from South Alabama, South Florida and Tennessee, is an ESPN Watch List member as one of the top inside linebackers for the junior class.

"I think overall, it is very close to home and it is a school he has been a fan of for most of his life," Catholic coach Greg Seibert said. "Watching him play over the last couple of years, and looking at the trajectory of where Coach [Jimbo] Fisher has the program headed, it seemed like a place that fit his skill set. He has great size, he runs really well, and that is one of the foundational parts of what Coach Fisher does with that defense. He puts kids on the field that run. His family was completely supportive and it is where he wants to be."

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As Tony Stevens (Orlando, Fla./Evans) looks decreasingly likely to sign with Florida State, the Seminoles have begun to make appropriate changes to their plans at wide receiver.

ESPN 150 wide receiver Jordan Cunningham (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./University School of Nova Southeast) is hardly a backup plan, though. Being the No. 59 prospect in the country, he's proved himself to be a quality prospect.

And it seems he's warm to Florida State despite running backs coach Eddie Gran's departure to Cincinnati, as well as Vanderbilt.

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Five-star linebacker Matthew Thomas (Miami, Fla./Booker T. Washington) said he wanted to win a state championship before he would deal with his recruitment.

Last month he led Booker T. Washington to the Class 4A state title and now he’s ready to get down to business in preparations for a signing day decision.

“It felt good to win state,” Thomas said. It was the main goal from the beginning of the season and it feels good to accomplish your goals, especially after coming up short the year before.

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- As ESPN 150 defensive end Tim Williams (Baton Rouge, La./ University Lab) nears national signing day, all that remains between him and choosing a school is a few official visits.

Up first is a trip to Alabama on January 11, Miami on the 18th and Florida State on the 25th. Williams will decide whether or not to take an official to LSU or Texas A&M at some point, too.

Among his finalists, it seems all have a common thread.

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Ryan Green's (St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg Catholic) season came to an end prematurely due to an AC joint injury in his shoulder in early September.

Since then, he's rehabbed and played some basketball for his high school. Football hasn't even been too much of a thought.

But this week at the Under Armour All-America Game, the Florida State running back commitment will refocus on the sport he'll be playing in college.

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- ESPN 150 safety Leon McQuay III (Seffner, Fla./Armwood) will be making his college decision at the Under Armour All-America Game on Friday.

The four-star athlete has a top five of USC, Michigan, Oregon, Vanderbilt and FSU, but McQuay said he won't have all five hats for his selection on Friday.

"Yeah ... I don't know [if Michigan still in consideration]. I don't know how many hats I'll have up there," he said. "My dad said he wasn't paying for five hats. I'll probably only have three hats up there.

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NoleNation addresses questions from the fan base about Florida State recruiting as we head toward national signing day.

ktruba asks, "What committed recruits out there are the most critical to FSU at snagging for the 2013 class?"

Dowlar: For me, the top remaining guy is Matthew Thomas. He is an instant impact guy at the linebacker position and Florida State has been all over him for a long time now. The Seminoles are probably the leader in the clubhouse, and from that position, they can't afford to lose him.

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With just a few short months left until national signing day, Florida and Florida State, as always, have two of the best recruiting classes in the country. 2014 will be no different. Here's a look at some of the top prospects Florida and Florida State will battle for next year.

DE Andrew Williams (McDonough, Ga./Eagles Landing): The ESPN Watch List defensive end visited Florida over the summer and came away impressed with the Gators. Williams also visited FSU for its game against the Gators. Other schools will be heavily involved in Williams' recruitment, but these two schools are sure to be near his top schools throughout.

DE Denzel Ware (Crestview, Fla./Crestview): Ware has been committed to FSU since September, but the Gators continue to pursue the talented defensive end. Ware took an unofficial visit to Florida for a game this year and came away impressed. He remains firmly committed to FSU, but Florida is still lingering.

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As the Class of 2013 is nearing the final days before national signing day, NoleNation takes a look at the Class of 2014 and some potential Florida-Florida State battles that are shaping up.

Denzel Ware -- Florida has kept up its pursuit of Ware, a Florida State commitment. The Watch List defensive end made an unofficial visit to see the Gators play at least once this fall, and his giving FSU his verbal isn't scaring off the Gators. Although UF has been persistent in its efforts, Ware says he is firmly committed to the Seminoles. However, if D.J. Eliot were to leave for Kentucky, there could be some kind of impact.

Ryeshene Bronson -- The ESPN Watch List wide receiver made his pledge to the Gators back in June. But since that point, much like Denzel Ware, he has been on Florida State's campus a handful of times. Bronson has given no indication of switching his commitment, but Florida State will likely keep tabs on him throughout the process.

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Florida State won 11 games and captured an ACC championship for the first time since 2005. But Seminoles fans can't decide if they should celebrate.

The success could feel hollow because of an underperforming conference, and questions remain if the program's momentum is moving forward.

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