Ball-Hawk Freshman DB Conrad Hussey Details Flipping to FSU, Possibility of Playing Early In Career

Florida State is bringing in a deep class of defensive backs from the high school level that includes Conrad Hussey, KJ Kirkland, Quindarrius Jones, Ja'Bril Rawls, and Edwin Joseph. Out of the bunch, there might not be a player with higher expectations than Hussey, who was the third-highest-rated recruit in #Tribe23 according to 247Sports.

Plus, he's bringing plenty of intrigue to the table after flipping to the Seminoles from Penn State during the Early Signing Period. It was a tough decision that took a lot of thought but Hussey ultimately chose to follow his heart.

"When I made the decision to flip from Penn State to Florida State, it was a very emotional decision. Well thought through, long thinking, praying to God about it every day, making sure I was making the right decision," Hussey said during his introductory press conference on Tuesday. "This school like runs in my family, blood. My auntie went here and I just want to continue that legacy. We're like FSU diehard fans so it was crazy I could come to my dream school."

"It was pretty chaotic because everybody started coming at me so I was like dang," Hussey continued. "I didn't know if I was making the wrong decision or making the right one but in the end, God chose what was right for me so I thank him for that."

After winning multiple state championships at St. Thomas Aquinas, Hussey believes that his experience with the Raiders will be useful in his transition to college. The program was structured to emulate the types of things that are now part of his daily schedule.

"One way that St. Thomas prepared their high schoolers is by having 6 a.m. workouts in the morning, having meetings before school starts, after, just basically doing like a college football schedule," Hussey said. "Having certain 12, 15 different periods throughout the practice so that's one way they prepare us for college and that's what separates St. Thomas Aquinas from a lot of other high schools."

The Florida native recently joined the program along with the other summer enrollees. He's been impressed with how the entire team is basically a brotherhood.

"I've been talking to majority of the team. Everybody gets along with each other, it's all family, it's all a real brotherhood over here," Hussey said. "I just enjoy the genuine friendship and bonds that we create over here that coach Norvell likes to focus on. Not to just make us football players, men, good husbands, brothers, all around, so I've enjoyed this whole process and everything going on since last week."

A self-described 'Ball Hawk', Hussey is confident that his footwork and ball skills are aspects that he can lean on early in his career.

"I like to rely on my footwork and my ball skills. I like to call myself a ball-hawk because I like to track the ball in the air," Hussey said. "I'm not going to be afraid to hit nobody, I'm gonna come down and lay a hat on somebody if I have to."

Hussey is already building bonds across the defensive backfield with players that are new to the program and veterans. The group has a goal of pulling down at least 20 interceptions in 2023.

"It's been going good. I've been connecting with a lot of the freshman DBs and a lot of the newcomers too," Hussey said. "One of the goals for the DBs is to get over 20 picks this season so we're going to see how that goes."

Florida State is thin at safety after Jammie Robinson declared for the NFL Draft while Travis Jay and Omarion Cooper transferred from the program. Hussey isn't sure what his role will be during his first year with the Seminoles just yet. Whenever the coaching staff calls his name, he plans to be ready.

"I don't really know for sure I'm just ready to play. Whatever they got to use me, I'm going to be there," Hussey said. "Just whatever they want to use me at and I'm just gonna ball out wherever they put me at."

Hussey is joining a room that includes redshirt senior Akeem Dent, redshirt sophomore Shyheim Brown, and true freshman Quindarrius Jones. Depending on how quickly he acclimates to the college game, he could be in line to play sizable role early at Florida State.

Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the offseason.

Follow NoleGameday on Twitter and Facebook