Top EDGE prospect commits to Alabama Crimson Tide over FSU Football

Florida State's 2026 class is off to a promising start. The Seminoles have already added two pledges over the last few months and are in contention for some of the top prospects in the country.

With that being said, you can't win every single recruiting battle.

On Friday, four-star defensive end Jamarion Matthews announced he was committing to Alabama over FSU, LSU, and Clemson. The Crimson Tide got Matthews' last visit before his decision as he was on campus for a junior day earlier this month.

The Seminoles recently extended Matthews an offer in January while he was in Tallahassee for a junior day trip. Considering this commitment to Alabama is coming relatively early in the recruiting cycle, it wouldn't be a surprise if the blue-chip prospect takes official visits to other programs in the summer or fall.

If Matthews does take visits elsewhere, Florida State might try to get back in the running. New defensive line coach Terrance Knighton already has an impressive pedigree on the trail with the talent he was able to attract to Nebraska. The hope is he'll be able to do that and more as time goes on with the Seminoles.

BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Jamarion Matthews has Committed to Alabama, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’3 250 EDGE from Gainesville, FL chose the Crimson Tide over Florida State, LSU, & Clemson

“I don’t give a p*** about nothing but the TIDE🐘”https://t.co/VXh1QPAueC pic.twitter.com/gMxNgrXJt1
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) February 21, 2025

Matthews is coming off a junior season where he totaled 57 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound defensive end is regarded as the No. 200 overall prospect, the No. 17 EDGE, and the No. 26 recruit in Georgia in the 2026 class according to 247Sports.

Florida State holds seven verbal commitments in its 2026 class which ranks No. 11 in the country.

The Seminoles are pursuing a number of defensive ends such as four-star Trenton Henderson, four-star Tyler Atkinson, four-star Cam Brooks, four-star Zavion Griffin-Haynes, and three-star Carter Luckie.