ESPN.com - Seminoles continue hitting the Carolinas

ESPN.com: Football Recruiting - Southeast Region

Friday, February 8, 2013
Seminoles continue hitting the Carolinas

By Corey Dowlar

With the addition of the new coaches on staff, Florida State looks to be extending it recruiting reach back into the Carolinas.

Normally sticking to the states of Florida, Georgia and Alabama over the last couple of cycles, there is renewed interest in the states all up and down the East coast.

Darin Smalls (Summerville, S.C./Summerville) was the latest to grab an offer from the Seminoles, and it was one that caught him somewhat off guard.

"I was very surprised because I didn't think that I was going to get looked at by any Florida schools," the 5-foot-11 cornerback said. "They sent me a letter one week, and then the next week they offered me, so that was pretty cool."

New tight ends coach Billy Napier, once a member of the Clemson coaching staff, is leading the charge.

He was responsible for the offer, while he and Smalls are still building a relationship.

"We messaged a couple times on Facebook, and I talked to him a couple of times on the phone," Smalls said.

Now that Florida State has expressed its interest, Smalls returned it in kind by scheduling an unofficial visit to Tallahassee on Feb. 23.

Smalls has offers Clemson, Virginia Tech and South Carolina, but FSU is now right up with the rest of them.

"Yeah, definitely it puts them right in there," he said.

At the next level, Smalls is looking for a blend that suits him.

"I just want to go to a strong program with good academics," said Smalls.

Smalls said he is looking from an offer from Florida as well. He also admitted that he would like to play in the state of Florida if it turned out to be the right situation for him.