Florida State Makes The Cut For Four-Star Defensive End, Elite Pass-Rusher

Florida State already holds 21 verbal commitments in its 2024 class prior to the beginning of the season. That means the Seminoles only have a couple of spots left in a class that is ranked at No. 6 in the country and the coaching staff is focusing on filling out the remaining numbers with elite prospects.

On Friday afternoon, four-star defensive end Booker Pickett Jr. cut down his recruitment to five schools. The Seminoles were one of the programs to make the cut alongside South Carolina, Miami, Georgia, and Ohio State.

FSU has been pursuing Pickett Jr. since offering him a scholarship in January 2022. He's been on campus multiple times this year, including in June for an unofficial visit. Pickett Jr. didn't take any official visits over the summer and it's possible he takes his process all the way into the Early Signing Period.

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— Booker “ B9 ” Pickett jr. (@pickett_booker) August 4, 2023

Despite his father playing defensive end at Miami in the 90s, Pickett Jr. actually grew up a fan of Florida State. That's something that's stayed on the back of his mind during the recruiting process and he understands what the program can offer him.

"There's a lot of great things this place can offer that not a lot of other places can offer; top 20 education, top five football. It's just different here," Pickett Jr. said to NoleGameday previously.

It's clear that the Seminoles have made him a major priority. FSU is still looking to add at least one more prospect to the room alongside four-star DD Holmes.

"I feel like I'm the top priority at pass-rusher," Pickett Jr. said. "I feel like they've been recruiting me hard."

Pickett Jr. has totaled a whopping 60 sacks during the first three years of his prep career. As a junior, he recorded 56 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 30 sacks, four forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery while guiding Wharton High School to an 8-3 record.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound defensive end is regarded as the No. 188 overall prospect, the No. 11 EDGE, and the No. 28 recruit in the state of Florida in the 2024 class according to 247Sports.

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