Florida State Seminoles 2021 College Football Recruiting Class Overview
Written by Charlie Beuttel
Twitter: @charlie_cds3
The 2020 season was an experience not many Florida State fans have endeavored as the Seminoles finished 3-6 in Mike Norvell’s first season in charge, which was their worst record since 1975. This disappointing finish was just good enough to finish third from the bottom in the ACC ahead of Duke and Syracuse. Their best win came on Oct. 17 as they upset No. 5 North Carolina 31-28.
Florida State’s first step back into conference contention is securing a solid recruiting class that will place more talent on the Seminoles’ roster to take on top ACC competition. During last month’s early signing period, Coach Novell and his staff secured 16 letters of intent from talented prospects from all over the United States. The class ranks 30th nationally, sixth best in-conference.
The highest-rated recruit to sign with the Seminoles is cornerback Hunter Washington from Katy (TX). Three more four-star prospects to sign with Florida State are from the Sunshine State and include defensive end Shambre Jackson from Orlando, wide receiver Malik McClain from Bradenton, and cornerback Omarion Cooper from Lehigh Acres. A prospect who will provide depth on the offensive line is four-star offensive tackle Rod Orr from Gadsden (AL).
Not only will Florida State rely on these incoming freshmen to right the ship but also the eight immediate transfers who are all excited to join the program. Some of these transfers include quarterback (4-Star) McKenzie Milton from Central Florida, wide receiver Andrew Parchment from Kansas, linebacker (4-Star) Jermaine Johnson from Georgia, and running back (4-Star) D.J. Williams from Auburn.
It will be exciting to watch these signees and transfers get Florida State back into conference contention and back to being one of the best programs in the country, where it rightfully belongs.
Florida State’s Early Period Signees
WR Malik McClain, 6-4, 195, IMG Academy-Bradenton, FL
WR Joshua Burrell, 6-2, 212, Blythewood HS-Blythewood, SC
OC Bryson Estes, 6-3, 291, Eagle’s Landing Christian School-McDonough, GA
CB Kevin Knowles, 5-10, 168, McArthur HS-Hollywood, FL
TE Jackson West, 6-4, 231, Huntsville HS-Huntsville, AL
DE Joshua Farmer, 6-3, 250, Gadsden County HS-Havana, FL
CB Hunter Washington, 5-11, 178, Katy HS-Katy, TX
DE Shambre Jackson, 6-2, 230, Boone HS-Orlando, FL
CB Omarion Cooper, 6-0, 170, Lehigh Senior HS-Lehigh Acres, FL
OT Rod Orr, 6-7, 296, Gadsden City HS-Gadsden, AL
LB Patrick Payton, 6-5, 205, Northwestern HS-Miami, FL
DE George Wilson, 6-5, 214, Green Run HS-Virginia Beach, VA
DE Byron Turner Jr, 6-4, 240, St. Augustine-New Orleans, LA
LB Jordan Eubanks, 6-2, 200, Denton Guyer HS-Denton, TX
TE Koby Gross, 6-4, 235, Diablo Valley College-Pleasant Hill, CA
LB Shyheim Brown, 6-1, 185, Columbia HS-Lake City, FL
Photo credit: Tomahawk Nation; Florida State Head Coach Mike Novell