On The Trail: Florida State Seminoles
The plans for Indianapolis Pike receiver Dominique Booth are changing again.
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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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If you know ESPN 150 offensive tackle Roderick Johnson (Florissant, Mo./Hazelwood Central), then you know that nothing tends to bother him. Not the stress of being the No. 2 player in the state of Missouri. Not being a four-star athlete.
Not even his recruiting process -- one that seems to remix every day.
Not even his recruiting process -- one that seems to remix every day.
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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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NORCROSS, Ga. -- ESPN 150 defensive end Lorenzo Carter seems to never stop grinning, even on the football field. His 100-megawatt smile calls to mind another affable defensive end, Michael Strahan, complete with the trademark gap. Even a shoving match with a teammate resulted in Carter falling down laughing about it later.
During the Norcross spring game on Friday, Carter and offensive tackle Horatio Walker tangled as they went at each other in the trenches. Walker held Carter’s jersey and was rewarded with a shot to the helmet.
“Well it was a run, and I don’t think Horatio respects me on the run yet, but it is all good,” Carter said between guffaws. “He tried to bully me around, but I was not having that so I had to hit him back. I was having fun out there.”
During the Norcross spring game on Friday, Carter and offensive tackle Horatio Walker tangled as they went at each other in the trenches. Walker held Carter’s jersey and was rewarded with a shot to the helmet.
“Well it was a run, and I don’t think Horatio respects me on the run yet, but it is all good,” Carter said between guffaws. “He tried to bully me around, but I was not having that so I had to hit him back. I was having fun out there.”
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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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D'Andre Walker (Fairburn, Ga./Langston Hughes) racked up 105 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and a blocked punt last season as a junior. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound pass rusher played a huge role in helping his team to a 10-2 record and its first playoff berth in school history and hit the recruiting map late in January, when North Carolina became the first program to offer Walker.
Since that time, 34 other programs have offered Walker. While Walker says all schools are now even, three coaching staffs have been able to connect with him the best so far. The 2015 prospect almost committed to one of them a few months back.
Since that time, 34 other programs have offered Walker. While Walker says all schools are now even, three coaching staffs have been able to connect with him the best so far. The 2015 prospect almost committed to one of them a few months back.
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Luginbill: Pack's versatility big for FSU
May, 19, 2013
May 19
8:52
PM ET
By
Tom Luginbill | ESPN.com
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.
Florida's No. 4 recruiting class took a huge hit Friday as one of its top pledges said he is no longer committed.
Christian Miller (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley) is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in South Carolina, No. 2 outside linebacker in the country and No. 76 in the ESPN 150.
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CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. -- He's only a freshman, but Wakulla wide receiver Keith Gavin has already garnered offers from Florida State, Florida, Clemson, South Carolina and Ole Miss.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound 2016 prospect is just starting the recruiting process but has caught the eye of many college across the southeast.
"It's been crazy," Gavin said. "Just about every week I've been having a different coach come to see me and watch me practice."
Gavin acknowledges that it's still too early to narrow down his choices, but he admits there is a school he grew up rooting for.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound 2016 prospect is just starting the recruiting process but has caught the eye of many college across the southeast.
"It's been crazy," Gavin said. "Just about every week I've been having a different coach come to see me and watch me practice."
Gavin acknowledges that it's still too early to narrow down his choices, but he admits there is a school he grew up rooting for.
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The football program at Locust Grove High School started in 2009 with a freelance Class AAA schedule, then continued to play in AAA for two more years before making the move to AAAA in 2012. Heading into last fall, the Wildcats had a record of 6-19, having won two games each season. For rising junior Cortez McDowell, it was time to help the fledgling program take the next step.
“My main goal was to help my football team since we have not done well the last two years, so my mindset was to help my team win more than two games,” McDowell said.
The 6-foot, 200-pound prospect was a major part in his program doubling its win total in one season, recording 60 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 10 passes broken up, two interceptions, forcing two fumbles, recovering one fumble on defense while rushing 25 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns and catching 29 passes for 679 yards and eight touchdowns on offense. He took a leadership role on defense, and whenever the team needed a big play on offense, McDowell was there.
Syracuse and NC State had already offered him during the spring of his sophomore year, and after his junior season, scholarships started pouring in. This spring, McDowell has visited Florida State, Tennessee, Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and North Carolina. While most visits were similar, a few of the trips left an impression on the talented athlete.
“My main goal was to help my football team since we have not done well the last two years, so my mindset was to help my team win more than two games,” McDowell said.
The 6-foot, 200-pound prospect was a major part in his program doubling its win total in one season, recording 60 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 10 passes broken up, two interceptions, forcing two fumbles, recovering one fumble on defense while rushing 25 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns and catching 29 passes for 679 yards and eight touchdowns on offense. He took a leadership role on defense, and whenever the team needed a big play on offense, McDowell was there.
Syracuse and NC State had already offered him during the spring of his sophomore year, and after his junior season, scholarships started pouring in. This spring, McDowell has visited Florida State, Tennessee, Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and North Carolina. While most visits were similar, a few of the trips left an impression on the talented athlete.
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On The Trail is ESPN Recruiting's home for all the latest news and information. With some of the nation's top recruiting writers contributing, OTT provides the latest details about commitments, visits and other notes to give fans the most comprehensive recruiting news source in the country.
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