Detailed notes from Florida State's final Junior Day, recruiting weekend of January

Florida State ended off the month of January with a massive recruiting weekend that included a Junior Day on Saturday. Prospects were on campus from Friday through Sunday afternoon and NoleGameday was on site for full coverage.

Read below for full notes from Florida State's final recruiting weekend of January. While a dead period is in place this month, the action will begin to bubble up again at the beginning of March.

2024 Four-star WR BJ Gibson:

Gibson was at Florida State for another visit on Saturday. He’s been in Tallahassee multiple times before and says he’s seen about everything. On this trip, Gibson met with both the football and baseball staff. This is coming off a recent decommitment from Tennessee’s baseball program. Gibson is planning to get back to FSU in the spring.

He’s looking for a program that will offer him the opportunity to play both sports. Outside of the ‘Noles, Kentucky, Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida remain involved. Gibson has upcoming visits to Kentucky and UF but I like where the Seminoles are positioning themselves right now.

Four-star WR Lawayne McCoy:

McCoy has been on Florida State’s campus multiple times since last year and five times total during his recruitment. He’s trending nationally but the Seminoles have been on him for quite some time and he says that Tallahassee feels like home. McCoy communicates with Dugans nearly every day.

He’s looking to get back to Florida State in March with his family. It feels like if the coaching staff truly pushes here, McCoy is theirs to lose at this time.

Four-star WR NY Carr (UGA commit):

Florida State offered Carr last week and it only took him a few days to make the short trip from Colquitt County down to Tallahassee to meet with the coaching staff. Chris Thomsen has been his primary recruiter to this point but I expect contact with Mike Norvell and Ron Dugans to pick up now that he’s officially picked up an offer. The Seminoles are working against Georgia but Carr appeared to be extremely open to other schools based on his comments.

Carr says he’s coming back to Florida State in the spring. The Seminoles are a possible destination for an OV in the summer. I want to see him keep showing back up.

Four-star TE Walter Matthews:

Another recruitment that Chris Thomsen is leading the charge for is four-star tight end Walter Matthews. Thomsen has been pushing him to visit for quite some time and Matthews followed through on Saturday. He’s built a strong bond with the position coach and also was able to speak to Mike Norvell. It feels like things are just getting started for Matthews.

The Seminoles are moving up in his recruitment but a lot of the top schools in the country are in pursuit. He’s another that needs to keep showing up to Tallahassee, especially being from a nearby region.

Four-star OL Caleb Holmes:

It was kind of a surprise when Holmes walked out of Tallahassee without an offer on Junior Day. However, it didn’t take FSU very long to end the waiting as the coaching staff extended him the scholarship the very next day. Holmes is regarded as one of the top interior offensive linemen in the country, he’s likely a guard, maybe center, for the Seminoles.

Holmes was blown away by his interactions with offensive line coach Alex Atkins. He really enjoyed his personality but beyond that, the attention to detail. Upon introducing himself to Atkins, he was told that Atkins had already watched his film and knew a lot about him. Holmes is looking to get back in the spring.

Three-star OL Nyier Daniels:

The Seminoles offered Daniels in January and a couple of weeks later he flew down from the Northeast and stopped by Gainesville and Tallahassee on consecutive days. This was the first chance for Daniels to see Florida State and meet with offensive line coach Alex Atkins in person. He enjoyed how the staff keeps it real with him and would like to come back if it works out.

Daniels is 6-foot-7, 340-pounds and looks the part. Multiple other schools like Michigan, Florida, Auburn, Kentucky, and Michigan State have also offered.

OL Raynor Andrews:

Andrews showed up to Florida State’s Junior Day on Saturday and picked up a scholarship offer from head coach Mike Norvell before departing from campus. He enjoyed learning from Alex Atkins and is beginning to form more of a relationship with him. Andrews actually knows current offensive tackle, Daughtry Richardson, so he was able to gain perspective from a player as well.

It’s too early to name a leader because his recruitment is just taking off but Andrews wants to get back to Florida State. The realness of the coaching staff and the environment caught his eye. The Seminoles are projecting the 6-foot-6, 315-pound prospect as an offensive tackle.

OL Jude Foster:

Foster was the final remaining prospect on Florida State’s campus during Saturday’s Junior Day. His visit spanned nearly eight hours as he spent a lot of time with Alex Atkins and Gabe Fertitta, who has ties to the Louisiana area. Foster measured in a shade under 6-foot-4 and is a growing name to know on the offensive line board. Coming out of the trip, he named the Seminoles his leader as he plans visits to other schools. Foster will return to Florida State in the spring to watch Atkins work with his position group.

OL Jordan Floyd:

Floyd dropped by Florida State on Sunday to meet with the coaching staff. He’s not yet ranked by most recruiting services but already holds some big-time offers from programs such as Tennessee, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Miss State. Floyd certainly passes the eye test at 6-foot-5, 295-pounds.

The Georgia native liked how the coaches kept it real with him. The Seminoles are among his early leaders and Floyd plans to come back in March. He’s also going to check out Tennessee over the next couple of months.

OL Joseph Ionata:

Ionata was joined by his brother and father on the visit. He’s a legacy prospect as his dad is Joey Ionata, who played at Florida State from 1984-88. Joey was an AP All-American honorable mention in 1988. Florida State’s coaching staff treated him how they should operate when they’re dealing with a legacy prospect at Junior Day. However, based on Ionata’s comments and the current offensive line board, I’m not expecting FSU to heavily pursue at this time. Miami and Florida seem to have the fast track here at the moment. The Seminoles have yet to offer.

Three-star DE Kendall Jackson:

This is another recruitment where Florida State hasn’t offered and I’m not sure if the coaching staff will be interested in pursuing Jackson. There is a lot of edge talent on the board at the moment and there’s not much about his skillset that says can’t miss prospect. Jackson spoke with Mike Norvell and John Papuchis on the visit. He wants to come back for a spring practice and a game in the fall.

DL Nasir Johnson:

Florida State offered emerging defensive tackle Nasir Johnson shortly after he arrived on campus on Saturday morning. Head coach Mike Norvell personally gave him the news during a meeting in his office. Johnson is nearly 6-foot-5 and over 300-pounds but he moves like someone who is a lot smaller, plus he has the athleticism to do a backflip.

Things are just getting started for Johnson but he says the Seminoles hold an early advantage over Georgia Southern and Kentucky. Miami and Georgia State recently offered too.

Three-star LB Jeremiah Marcelin:

Marcelin was at FSU on Saturday for Junior Day alongside a contingent of players from Miami Norland High School. Coming out of the trip, it appears that the Seminoles sit pretty highly on Marcelin’s shortlist. Programs such as Cincinnati, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Miami are also considered top schools for Marcelin.

Linebackers coach Randy Shannon is making him a priority and that’s something that Marcelin likes. He enjoys how the coaching staff at Florida State keeps everything straight up with him during their conversations. Return visit to Tallahassee in the spring.

Four-star S Ricardo Jones:

Jones dropped by Florida State on Sunday alongside his family for a more personal experience with the coaching staff. After being greeted by head coach Mike Norvell, he was able to sit down with new defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. for the first time as well. It appeared that Jones was impressed by the conversations, noting how the coaching staff keeps it straight with him Jones is one of the top prospects on the board for FSU.

Other schools such as Michigan, Texas, Tennessee, and Auburn are high on his list as well. He will cut things down to a top list over the summer while splitting his OVs between that period and the fall. Jones is considering an announcement around October.

K Jake Weinberg:

This was Weinberg’s first visit to Florida State since committing in early January. The Seminoles rolled out the red carpet as he spent time with Mike Norvell, John Papuchis, and Carter Barfield. There’s not a ton to worry about here. Weinberg’s dream has always been to go to FSU. Schools have reached out to try and get him to visit but so he’s not setting up any trips elsewhere. Weinberg will be back in March and for the spring game. He plans to take his Official Visit for a game in the fall.

2025

QB KJ Lacey:

Florida State recently offered Lacey back in December and he dropped by campus on Saturday for Junior Day. Lacey is a growing priority in the 2025 class and he should be, he fits the bill as a top-100 type of prospect. He’s coming off an extremely productive sophomore season where he tossed 40 TDs to five interceptions and colleges are starting to take notice.

While Lacey was at Florida State over the weekend, Alabama actually called and offered. He didn’t post the announcement until after he departed from Tallahassee but it’s an offer he’s been coveting. Lacey is from the state of Alabama but he clicked with the coaching staff and plans to keep coming back to FSU.

RB Alvin Henderson:

Henderson returned to FSU for his fourth visit since last spring on Saturday. He was personally welcomed to Tallahassee by Mike Norvell and senior offensive analyst Austin Tucker, who works with the running backs. Position coach David Johnson was out of town on the day while attending to some family business.

He enjoyed learning about how productive Norvell’s running backs have been dating back to his time at Memphis. Henderson will return to FSU again in April. Other programs standing out include Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Penn State, and Miami.

OL Ziyare Addison:

Florida State was the first school to offer Ziyare Addison last summer following a performance at a camp. He was back at the Seminole Showcase in July and returned over the weekend of Junior Day. He’s packed on nearly 25 pounds of good weight since last summer and appears to be trending in the right direction. Addison is extremely high on the Seminoles at this time but his recruitment is just beginning.

Alabama, USC, Miami, UF, and Auburn are hoping to get him on campus this offseason. He’ll be back at FSU in the spring or summer.

Five-star DE Jared Smith:

Smith was at Florida State for the first time during his recruitment on Sunday. The Seminoles caught his attention following their ten-win campaign as well as the productivity they’ve had along the defensive line in recent years. Smith is a five-star prospect and one of the top DEs in the 2025 class.

I’m always skeptical about chasing prospects from Alabama (especially when you consider recent history) and the Crimson Tide recently offered but this is one that FSU is getting in on very early. John Papuchis and Mike Norvell are leading the charge here. The hope is that the ‘Noles get Smith back on campus in the summer and for a game.

Four-star LB Gavin Nix:

Nix appears to be high on Florida State coming out of his Junior Day visit on Saturday. He sat down with linebackers coach Randy Shannon to watch film and clearly has knowledge about a couple of the players in the past that Shannon has developed into standout players. Nix respects the tradition and culture in Tallahassee and has noticed how Mike Norvell is bringing the standard back. He didn’t want to talk about other leaders but FSU is in a good position in his recruitment. Nix is extremely versatile and someone that can be considered a major target in the 2025 class.

2026

QB Will Griffin:

It’s very early but Griffin projects to be one of the best players in his class. For a rising sophomore, he’s filling out very well and already has a thick lower body that has some referring to him as a mini Tim Tebow. He took over a starter for Jesuit Tampa in the second half of the 2022 season and guided the team to a playoff berth.

That’s a year after starting on varsity for a different high school as an eighth grader and throwing 30 TDs. To say the least, this kid looks like he’ll be legit. FSU got in the ring early with the first scholarship offer of his recruitment in December. Griffin has already been on campus four times and it looks like he’ll be a consistent face to follow over the coming years.

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