Florida State Adds Depth To Defensive Backfield With Rangy JUCO Safety Ashlynd Barker

Florida State has grown increasingly thin at safety since the beginning of the year. Former Seminole star Jammie Robinson declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round. Plus, Omarion Cooper and Travis Jay both transferred from the program to go play for Deion Sanders at Colorado.

The coaching staff is exploring multiple avenues to add depth to the roster ahead of a highly-anticipated season in Tallahassee.

On Tuesday, Iowa Western Community College safety Ashlynd Barker announced that he was committing to Florida State. He chose the Seminoles over programs such as Oregon State, Ball State, and New Mexico State.

God did. #commited pic.twitter.com/PMFHTWSAYN
— Ashlynd Barker (@AshlyndBarker) May 16, 2023

This recruitment happened fast as Florida State just offered Barker on May 2 after defensive coordinator Adam Fuller watched him practice at Iowa Western. Barker redshirted last season so he only has practice film at the college level. He's coming off of an official visit where the coaching staff was able to further evaluate him in person.

From what we understand, the Seminoles were delighted with his measurables as Barker ended up being bigger than the staff thought. He measured in a shade under 6-foot-3 and right around 200 pounds. Plus, Barker has a long wing span and is built similarly to true freshman safety KJ Kirkland with a rangy frame.

With only two scholarship players at the position that have game experience at the college level (Akeem Dent, Shyheim Brown), the Seminoles will start Barker off at safety. Depending on how quickly he catches on with the scheme, they'll move him around further across the defense.

"Beginning out, they will want me at high safety so that'll be the first thing I learn if I come here," Barker said to NoleGameday after his official visit. "If I got that down pat, they'll start trying to move to nickel."

The Georgia native spent a lot of time around head coach Mike Norvell, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, and defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. while in Tallahassee. He was impressed with how they build relationships with their players.

"Really the main thing, they focus more on the relationship with the players more than football," Barker said previously. "Relationships are everything. If you don't have a relationship with them, it would be hard to come to a school and play for them."

As a member of the 2023 class, he becomes Florida State's No. 28 signee in a haul that ranks No. 19 in the country. A physical safety with the build that the Seminoles are looking for in a defensive back, Barker could potentially play an immediate role. True freshmen KJ Kirkland and Conrad Hussey will also be competing for snaps behind Dent and Brown.

Barker has yet to be ranked in the 2023 class according to 247Sports. It's anticipated that he'll have four years to play four after redshirting at Iowa Western this past season.

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