Top-100 DE, Miami Legacy Booker Pickett Jr. Building Relationship with Florida State's Staff

There aren't many rivalries more bitter and more passionate than when Florida State and Miami match up each year. The two sides are clearly divided, especially with Mike Norvell and Mario Cristobal in the midst of a battle that could decide the future powerhouse of the state. That war is being waged on the recruiting trail, in the transfer portal, and everywhere in between.

Some recruitments are important in more ways than one. In the case of Four-Star defensive end Booker Pickett Jr., he's one of the top prospects in the country and also a Miami legacy. His father played for the Hurricanes from 1994-96 and his mother also attended the university.

That had Pickett Jr. taking a different tune throughout his childhood. He grew up a fan of the Seminoles.

"When I was younger, I started like them because my mom and dad went to Miami," Pickett Jr. said to NoleGameday's Dustin Lewis. "They didn't like it but I just kept doing it because I like FSU."

A rising senior who has developed into a coveted prospect across the country, Pickett Jr. still has a lot of love for Florida State. At the same time, he understands that he's got to explore every option on the table.

"It kind of does. I still have a lot of love for FSU," Pickett Jr. said. "As I see other schools, it's like 'ok, other schools have stuff to offer too' so it's not just FSU."

Pickett Jr. returned to Tallahassee over the weekend for his first trip to Florida State since the program's loss to Clemson in October. The environment and coaches are something that stands out to him.

"It's an amazing environment," Pickett Jr. said. "The facilities are nice, the coaches are all great, so it's a whole different vibe from their perspective."

One of the highlights of the visit was observing Florida State's second scrimmage of the spring. He kept a close eye on the defensive ends, specifically noting that he was impressed by Jared Verse.

"It was what I expected," Pickett Jr said. "I expected them to be violent, I expected them to be pretty well fought. I like the way they also attack the quarterback."

The Florida native's closest relationship on the staff is with defensive coordinator Adam Fuller. He likes the energy that Fuller, who greeted Pickett Jr. and his mother to begin Saturday morning, exhuberates during their conversations.

"It's going well. I call Fuller up, he calls me up," Pickett Jr. said. "It's not really like a college coach, it's like friends. I see how he gets in there as a coach."

While he's still developing a bond with head coach Mike Norvell, Pickett Jr. noted that the two are going to keep building their relationship. They had a long talk while Pickett Jr. was on campus.

"We were just building a relationship," Pickett Jr. said. "He was just telling me what he sees me as. Telling me he was proud of what I was doing so far. We're going to keep building, closer.

Pickett Jr. described some of the conversation and what Norvell told him about Florida State.

"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.

Despite being a legacy to the Hurricanes, Pickett Jr. feels like the Seminoles have made him a top priority. The staff has consistently been in contact with him throughout his recruitment.

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

Following the visit, Florida State sits in a good position at this stage of Pickett Jr.'s recruitment. He's in the process of deciding if the Seminoles will earn one of his five official visits.

"They've gone up for sure," Pickett Jr. said. "I like them a lot, I like the environment they have here."

Pickett Jr. will take his official visits during the season with a decision likely to come once his senior campaign wraps up. He's looking at a return trip to Florida State over the summer.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound defensive end is regarded as the No. 67 overall prospect, the No. 8 EDGE, and the No. 9 recruit in the state of Florida in the 2024 class according to 247Sports.

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

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