Florida State's 2008 football recruiting class
Already Enrolled
Nigel Bradham 6-2, 225, OLB Crawfordville, FL (Wakulla) Committed on 4/15/07
RANKINGS: CSTV--6th, ESPN 150--60th, ESPN150--4th (ILB), Rivals100--16th, Rivals--1st(ILB), SI/Takkle 100--7th, SI/Takkle--2nd (LB), Prep Star -- 5th, Prep Star -- 1st (LB)
One of the top recruits in the nation, Bradham is already enrolled at FSU…PARADE All-American… ranked the top player in the state, the 13th-best prospect in the nation and the top OLB in America by Rivals...a five-star rated outside linebacker by Rivals…ESPN ranks him as their fourth-best OLB and the 60th-best player in America…Tom Luginbill of Scouts, Inc. considers him an outstanding prospect…Sports Illustrated and TAKKLE have Bradham rated as the seventh-best player in America…a finalist for the 2008 U.S. Army Player of the Year Award…received honorable mention Army All-America honors as the best tackler…led the East team to a 33-23 victory and recorded four tackles in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl…was the recipient of the EAS Speed and Strength Award…Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend Defensive Player of the Year…PrepStar Dream Team member…FSWAA All-State 3A First Team Defense… AJC Super Southern 100…Rivals says Bradham has the best instincts of any linebacker, the third-most closing speed and is the fifth-best athlete among linebackers this year…finished his senior season with 147 tackles, 12 sacks and four defensive touchdowns in leading Wakulla to a district championship…as a junior he tallied 145 tackles, eight sacks and four interceptions, two of which he returned for TDs…recorded over 430 tackles and 20 sacks during his three-year career at Wakulla…had one of the five best games in the nation this year according to Rivals when he registered 15 tackles in a 16-0 win over Blountstown…timed at 4.52 in the 40-yard dash, can bench press 440 pounds and clean jerk 310…had over 40 offers and chose the Seminoles over Georgia, Mississippi and Florida.
Terrance Parks 6-1, 200, CB Fairburn, GA (Creekside) Committed on 7/19/07
RANKINGS: ESPN 150--36th, ESPN 150--5th (CB), Rivals--32nd (CB)
Georgia native is already enrolled at Florida State…rated the 36th-best player in America by ESPN and the fifth-best cornerback…ESPN believes he has the potential to become an elite player at the next level…according to ESPN Parks is "an absolute monster of an athletic cornerback with versatility on offense and the measurables every coach in America wants in their perimeter players" and that he can match up with "just about any player in America"…Tom Luginbill of Scouts, Inc. considers him an outstanding prospect… Rivals ranks him as the 32nd-best safety in the 2008 class and the 27th-best prospect in the state of Georgia…a three-star safety according to Rivals… Prep Star All-Region Team…participated in the Under Armour All-America High School Football Game…Scouts, Inc. said Parks reminded them of Baltimore Ravens coner Chris McAllister after watching the FSU commit practicing in Orlando…led Team Click-Clack with three tackles in the game…recorded 45 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries during his senior year for the Creekside Seminoles…recorded 43 tackles and had four interceptions during his junior season…timed at 4.43 in the 40 and benched 305 pounds…graduated with a 3.0 GPA…chose Florida State over Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee.
Vincent Williams 6-0, 210, ILB Davenport, FL (Ridge Community) Committed on 4/18/07
RANKINGS: ESPN 150 -- 40th (LB), Rivals 250 -- 197th, Rivals -- 10th (LB)
One of three early enrollees in the 2008 class…four-star inside linebacker by Rivals.com…ranked the ninth-best inside linebacker in the country and the 24th-best prospect in the state of Florida by Rivals…also a member of the Rivals 250… ESPN has Williams rated at #40 at his position… Prep Star All-American…named Polk County Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and all-county as a sophomore…totaled almost 300 tackles in three seasons with 48 TFL and 25 sacks…had 122 tackles, nine sacks, 20 QB hurries and 26 TFL as a junior in 2006…also played running back where he carried the ball 72 times for 604 yards as a junior… rushed for 138 yards on just 13 carries (10.6 average) and scored two touchdowns in Davenport's 27-0 shutout win over Auburndale (Fla.)…FSWAA All-State 3A Second Team Defense… ran the 40-yard dash in 4.68…maxed out at 320 on the bench and squatted 545 pounds…vertical measured at 30"… chose Florida State over LSU, Ohio State and Florida.
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Signees
A.J. Alexander 5-11, 170, RB Altoona, PA (Altoona) Committed on 1/28/08
RANKINGS: Prep Star -- 117th, Rivals -- 203rd, Rivals -- 19th (ATH), Rivals -- 8th(Pennsylvania Top 40), ESPN -- 40th (ATH)
PrepStar Dream Team member…Rivals calls Alexander the 19th-best athlete in this year's class…the eighth-best prospect out of the state of Pennsylvania named all-county and all-conference as a junior and senior…consistently times in the low 4.3's in the 40…played quarterback in high school…senior year he rushed for 1000+ yards and 23 TDs…caught six touchdowns and amassed more than 400 yards receiving…returned two kicks for scores as well…as a junior he finished the year with over 1000 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns…in the air, he had another 400 yards with four scores… benches 280 pounds, squats 410 and has a 42 inch vertical jump…also ran track (10.5-100m, 21.5-200m)…ran the fastest 40 among wide outs and the ninth-fastest 40 overall at the State College Nike Training Camp in 2006…posted a 3.2 GPA in high school… father played football at Maryland…had over 40 offers and chose FSU over Tennessee, North Carolina and Pittsburgh among others.
Travis Arnold 5-10, 184, S Madison, FL (Madison) Committed on 7/20/07
RANKINGS: Rivals -- 21st (S), Rivals -- 32nd (Florida Top 100)
Four-star recruit by Rivals… listed as the 21st-best safety in America by Rivals and the 32nd ranked player in the state of Florida… FSWAA All-State 2A First Team Defense…Prep Star All-Region Team…led all running backs in the bench press at the Athens Nike Training Camp in 2006…recorded 75 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior at Madison…also caught 67 passes for 750 yards and 12 TDs…ran a 4.31 40-yard dash…received offers from South Carolina, Clemson and Marshall.
Nigel Carr 6-3, 220, LB Jacksonville, FL (First Coast) Committed on 4/15/07
RANKINGS: ESPN 150 -- 74th, ESPN 150 -- 4th (OLB), Rivals 250 -- 109th, Rivals -- 6th (ILB), SI/Takkle -- 46th, SI/Takkle -- 2nd (OLB), Prep Star -- 53rd
Ranked in the top six in the nation at his position by SI/TAKKLE, Rivals and ESPN… SI/Takkle has him rated as the 46th-best prospect overall and they call him "the best outside linebacker prospect in the country"… Rivals lists him as the 17th-best prospect in Florida…fourth for instincts and closing speed according to Rivals…AJC Super Southern 100…Prep Star Dream Team member…Tom Luginbill of Scouts, Inc. considers him an outstanding prospect…ESPN believes Carr can contribute right away as a linebacker or be a worthy defensive end in time…FSWAA All-State 4A First Team Defense…Under Armour All-American…had 399 tackles in high school including 133 last season…registered 116 tackles and13 sacks as a junior…ran a 4.55 40…maxed out at 305 on the bench and had a squat max of 450…one of three players from First Coast to commit to Florida State this year…chose Florida State over Florida, Clemson, South Carolina USF, Georgia Tech and Minnesota.
Avis Commack 6-4, 182, WR Jacksonville, FL (First Coast) Committed on 5/24/07
RANKINGS: Rivals -- 67th (WR), Rivals -- 66th (Florida Top 100), ESPN 150 -- 74th (WR)
A three-star prospect by Rivals… Rivals has the receiver rated No. 66 overall in the state of Florida and the 67th-best wideout overall…ESPN lists Commack as the nation's 75th-best receiver…Commack posses a great blend of deceptive speed, toughness and the ability to make acrobatic catches in traffic…AJC Super Southern 100…Prep Star All-Region Team…FSWAA All-State 4A Honorable Mention…had 43 catches for over 600 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior…clocked a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash…chose Florida State over South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Illinois, NC State and Purdue.
Andrew Datko 6-6, 285, OG Ft. Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas) Committed on 10/29/07
RANKINGS: Rivals -- 35th (OG), ESPN 150 -- 50th (OT)
Three-star recruit by Rivals…the 35th-best guard in America according to Rivals… rated 50th among offensive tackles this year by ESPN … PrepStar All-Region Team…FSWAA All-State 5A First Team offense…Miami Herald and South Florida Sun Sentinel All-Broward County…ran the 40 in a time of 5.3…played on St. Thomas' 14-1 State Championship squad…played for the state title every year of his high school career…chose FSU over UCF and FIU.
Everett Dawkins 6-2, 242, DE Duncan, SC (Byrnes) Committed on 11/17/07
RANKINGS: Rivals 250 -- 242nd, Rivals -- 8th (WDE), Rivals -- 8th (South Carolina), ESPN 150 -- 20th (DE)
Rated a four-star defensive end by Rivals…a top 20 defensive end prospect according to ESPN…Rivals has Dawkins as a top 10 prospect among weakside defensive ends and the eighth-best player coming out of South Carolina this season… PrepStar All-Region Team…AP All-State selection as a senior…his Byrnes team went 15-0 and captured the state championship…played in Max Emfinger's All-American Bowl Game Classic in Jackson, Mississippi…captained his team to a 42-0 victory as he recorded five sacks and double digit tackles…also played in the 71st annual Shrine Bowl where he recorded three tackles and broke up a pass…this past season he recorded 115 tackles, 14 sacks and recovered five fumbles… in 2006 he recorded 46 solo tackles, 56 assists, three sacks and 18 tackles for loss…posted a 4.68 in the 40…received scholarship offers from 10 schools including Illinois, Michigan State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
Garrett Faircloth 6-6, 265, OT Brunswick, GA (Bolles) Committed on 1/2/4/08
RANKINGS: ESPN -- 57th (OT)
Sleeper recruit comes to FSU having never played on the offensive line in high school…missed his junior season after tearing his ACL…ESPN lists Faircloth as the 57th-best offensive tackle prospect in this year's class and believes he has a lot of upside and real promise…FSWAA All-State 2A Second Team…played on the defensive line at Bolles as a senior and recorded 80 tackles…sister plays softball at Mississippi…chose FSU over Memphis, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and UCF.
Jarmon Fortson 6-3, 220, ATH Columbus, GA (Carver) Committed on 2/6/08
RANKINGS: Rivals – 75th, Rivals – 7th (Athlete), Rivals – 6th (Georgia), ESPN – 42nd (WR)
Four-star recruit according to both Rivals … PrepStar All-Southeast Region…AJC Super Southern 100…Class AAA All-State selection as a senior…first team all-city as a junior…ESPN describes Fortson as "a massive target" with a "wonderful combination of size, strength, quick hands and speed"…ESPN summed up Fortson by saying "Overall, Fortson is big and physical, and you don't find receivers with his size, speed and change-of-direction skills"…registered over 1,500 yards and 22 receiving TDs in his final two seasons at Carver…runs a 4.6 in the 40 and has a 33" vertical…max bench is 265 and max squat is 390…chose FSU over Auburn, Clemson, Alabama, Kentucky, Louisville and South Carolina.
Josh Gehres 6-3, 190, WR Tallahassee, FL (Lincoln) Committed on 1/28/08
RANKINGS: ESPN -- 149th (WR)
Burst onto the scene as a senior totaling more than 1,100 receiving yards on 29 receptions while scoring 13 touchdowns…averaged 38 yards per catch in 2007…ESPN has Gehres ranked 149th among receivers… ESPN cites his body control, concentration and excellent hands as some of the reasons he delivers the big catch on third down and in the red zone…according Scouts, Inc. Gehres could cause major match-up problems down the road…FSWAA All-State 4A Second Team offense… Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend first team…timed at 4.53 in the 40-yard dash…posted a 4.5 GPA at Lincoln…grandfather played at FSU in the 1950's…chose FSU over offers from Illinois, Michigan State, Iowa and South Florida.
Anthony Hill 6-4, 270, DT Pensacola, FL (Pensacola) Committed on 2/16/07
RANKINGS: ESPN 150 -- 34th (DT), Rivals -- 51st (DT), Rivals -- 61st (Florida Top 100)
Three-star defensive tackle according to Rivals … ESPN has him rated in the top 40 among defensive tackle prospects…Rivals ranks Hill as the 51st-best DT prospect and 61st among all recruits in the state of Florida…FSWAA All-State 3A First Team Defense… PrepStar All-Region Team…had eight sacks and 65 tackles as a senior…recorded 9.5 sacks as a junior…timed at 4.9 in the 40…has dropped his weight from 300 to 270…chose FSU over USF.
Ed Imeokparia 6-0, 188, ATH Blairstown, NJ (Blair Academy) Committed on 2/6/08
RANKINGS: Rivals -- 22nd (New Jersey)
Three-star athlete according to Rivals…ranked as the 22nd-best player from the state of New Jersey this season…Scouts, Inc. believes Imeokparia is a good back and they like "his speed, toughness and ability to run between the tackles with authority"… rushed for 600 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2005…67 tackles and three interceptions in 2006…last name pronounced em-ee-OH-pahr-e-ya…ran the 40 in 4.41 and has a 32" vertical…3.0 GPA…chose FSU over Tennessee, Boston College, UNC, Michigan State, Louisville and Cincinnati.
Carlton Jones 5-11, 215, RB Tampa, FL (Middleton) Committed on 2/6/08
Received interest from Florida, Tennessee and Maryland…rushed for 1,200 yards in back-to-back seasons…scored 16 touchdowns as a senior…started out his junior season playing quarterback before moving to running back half way through the year… an Old Spice Red Zone High School Football Player of the Year…all-county and all-state honorable mention as a senior…chose FSU over Toledo.
Jabaris Little 6-4, 240, TE Tallahassee, FL (Lincoln) Committed on 5/23/07
RANKINGS: Rivals 250 -- 227th, Rivals -- 10th (TE), ESPN -- 38th (TE)
Little continues the great tradition of Lincoln High School players coming to Florida State…four-star tight end according to Rivals…Rivals has Little rated as the fifth-fastest tight end prospect this year… ESPN has him listed at 38th at his position…PrepStar All-Region Team…FSWAA All-State 4A Honorable Mention…played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl…ran a 4.6 40-yard dash…chose FSU over Ohio State, Tennessee, NC State, Illinois, USF and Minnesota.
Moses McCray 6-2, 268, DT Tampa, FL (Hillsborough) Committed on 5/2/07
RANKINGS: Rivals -- 21st (DT), Rivals -- 41st (Florida), ESPN 150 -- 27th (DT)
Rivals lists McCray as a four-star prospect… both ESPN and Rivals have him in the top 30 at his position…according to ESPN and Scouts, Inc., McCray is a "disruptive defender"…PrepStar All-American…FSWAA All-State 4A Honorable Mention…played in the FACA North vs. South All-Star game…recorded 15 sacks as a junior…ran a 4.68 in the 40…wrestled and participated in track at Hillsborough…chose FSU over Miami, LSU, Ohio State, Florida and Rutgers among others.
Anthony McCloud 6-3, 295, DL Thomasville, GA (Thomas County Central) Committed on 2/6/08
Thomasville Times-Enterprise's Defensive Player of the Year…his Thomas County Central team had a perfect record in 2007 before losing in the class AAAA semifinal to finish the year at 13-1…selected to play in the GACA North-South All-Star game…recorded 25 tackles as a senior but opponents avoided the lineman "at all costs" according to Central coach Ed Pilcher.
E.J. Manuel 6-4, 215, QB Virginia Beach, VA (Bayside) Committed on 6/27/07
RANKINGS: SI/Takkle -- 8th, SI/Takkle -- 2nd (QB), Prep Star -- 17th, CSTV -- 17th, Rivals 100 -- 43rd, Rivals -- 2nd (Dual Threat QB), Rivals -- 1st (Virginia), ESPN 150 -- 51st, ESPN 150 -- 6th (QB)
One of the top quarterback recruits in the nation in 2008… PARADE All-American… SI/Takkle rate Manuel the eighth-best recruit regardless of position…rated the best player in the state of Virginia this year by Rivals…Rivals has Manuel rated second for arm strength and accuracy…Tom Luginbill of Scouts, Inc. considers him an outstanding prospect…PrepStar Dream Team member…AJC Super Southern 100… SI/Takkle calls Manuel a "world-class quarterback" who "could be a superstar on the next level"…starting QB in the Under Armour All-American game where he completed 5 of 6 passes for 71 yards in leading Team White to a win…Scouts, Inc. compared Manuel to "a smaller JaMarcus Russell" after watching the QB practice in Orlando…honorable mention "Best Arm" at the Under Armour All-Star game…accounted for almost 7,400 yards and 68 TDs in his high school career…threw for 48 TDs and ran for 12 in his career at Bayside…completed at least 56% of his passes every season of his high school career…passed for nearly 4,000 yards combined in his junior and senior seasons… had at least 1,300 yards passing as a sophomore, junior and senior…nearly threw for 2,000 yards (1,973) as a junior and had 19 TD passes as a senior…also rushed for 541 yards as a senior…earned All-Tidewater district honors…named second-team all-state in Group AAA…participated in Elite 11 camp…runs a 4.6 in the 40…a Dallas Cowboy fan who models his game after New England QB and NFL MVP Tom Brady…chose FSU over LSU, Oregon, Tennessee and Alabama among others.
Nick Moody 6-1, 218, S Philadelphia, PA (Roman Catholic) Committed on 4/17/07
RANKINGS: CSTV -- 86th, Rivals 100 -- 100th, Rivals -- 9th (OLB), Rivals – 5th (Pennsylvania), ESPN 150 -- 46th (LB)
Four-star prospect and a top five player in the state of Pennsylvania according to Rivals…Rivals considers him the ninth-best OLB prospect in this class…PrepStar All-Region Team…played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl…named honorable mention for best closing speed and most physical at the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl…won the league championship with Roman Catholic as a senior as he was named a Class 4A First Team All-State selection…recorded 65 tackles, four sacks and five pass break-ups as a junior while playing safety, cornerback and linebacker…caught 13 TD passes his sophomore season…clocked at 4.45 in the 40-yard dash…chose FSU over offers from Penn State, Georgia Tech, Michigan State and Temple.
Tavares Pressley 6-1, 215, RB Arcadia, FL (El Camino CC/De Soto) Committed on 11/27/07
RANKINGS: Rivals Junior College 50 -- 13th
Four-star recruit according to Rivals…many consider Pressley to be the top junior college running back in the state of California and one of the best in the nation…Rivals sees Pressley as an All-America candidate player at the next level…PrepStar Junior College All-American…first team All-Mission Football Conference selection…rushed for 832 yards and 11 touchdowns at El Camino in 2007 despite averaging less than 10 carries per game…shared duties in the backfield with three other running backs who are expected to play at D1 schools in 2008…accounted for 171.3 yards per game in offense for Monterey Peninsula College as a freshman in 2006…had 1,211 yards rushing, 147 receiving yards, 357 yards on returns and scored 23 touchdowns….runs a 4.4 in the 40, benches a max of 385, has a squat max of 500 and a 33" vertical leap…played QB his entire life before going to junior college and moving to tailback…teammate at El Camino with fellow FSU signee Corey Surrency…chose FSU over Kansas State, Colorado, Mississippi, Nebraska, Arizona and Washington State.
Zebrie Sanders 6-5, 273, OT Clayton, OH (Northmont) Committed on 1/20/08
RANKINGS: Rivals -- 128th, Rivals -- 15th (OT), Rivals -- 8th (Ohio Top 50), ESPN -- 18th (OT)
Four-star prospect according to Rivals…ranked the fifth-best athlete among all offensive line prospects by Rivals…Rivals considers Sanders to have All-America ability on the collegiate level…PrepStar All-American…Anthony Munoz Foundation Offensive Lineman of the Year…named Under Armour All-American, ESPNU All-American, ONN Ohio All-State, All-Conference and All-District…ran a 5.3 in the 40, maxed out on the bench at 305, squats 475 and has a 26" vertical…started as the varsity LT since the beginning of his sophomore season…helped his team make the state playoffs and finish with a 7-4 record as a senior… member of The National Honor Society with a 3.475 GPA…holds the rank of Eagle scout in the Boy Scouts of America…has received superior rankings as a violist in the chamber orchestra…born in Columbia, SC…mother attended the University of Georgia…chose FSU over offers from Georgia, Florida, LSU, Clemson and UCLA among others.
Rhonne Sanderson 6-4, 280, OL Tampa, FL (Plant) Committed on 1/29/08
RANKINGS: ESPN -- 64th (OT)
Won the Jimbo Kynes Outstanding Lineman Award given to the top linemen in Hillsborough County beating out five-star offensive tackle Matt Patchan for the award…FSWAA All-State 4A Second Team selection…Scouts, Inc. believes Sanderson can develop into a "steal" for Florida State…key member of a Plant team that went 26-2 the last two seasons…protected two of the top QB's in the state of Florida the last two seasons…in 2006 he protected Florida's Mr. Football Robert Marve who is expected to enter spring drills as the starting QB at the University of Miami…this past season he blocked for junior Aaron Murray who already has received offers from Florida, Tennessee and Georgia among others…played in the FACA North vs. South All-Star game…brother plays for South Carolina…chose FSU over offers from Michigan State, FAU, FIU, Toledo and Ball State and interest from Michigan and Louisville.
Debrale Smiley 6-2, 240, RB Thomasville, GA (Thomas County Central) Committed on 2/6/08
Thomasville Times-Enterprise's Offensive Player of the Year…his Thomas County Central team had a perfect record in 2007 before losing in the class AAAA semifinal to finish the year at 13-1…all-state selection…selected to play in the GACA North-South All-Star game…set records at Central for touchdowns in a season (35), touchdowns in a career (81) and rushing yards in a season (2,028).
Blake Snider 6-4, 282, OL Heflin, AL (Cleburne County) Committed on 2/4/08
Pigskin Round-Up All Star Team 2007…advanced to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs in 2007…tore his ACL in 2006 Class 4A State Playoff game…his father is the defensive coordinator at Cleburne County…chose FSU over Samford and Troy.
David Spurlock 6-5, 287, OL Murfreesboro, TN (Riverdale) Committed on 12/9/07
RANKINGS: ESPN 150 -- 25th (OL), Rivals -- 51st (OG), Rivals – 8th (Tennessee)
Three-star lineman according to Rivals …Rivals rates Spurlock the eighth-best player to come out of the state of Tennessee this year…Scouts, Inc. calls Spurlock a "tenacious prospect"…PrepStar All-Region team… 2006 All-Region 4-5A selection…chose FSU over offers from Louisville, Ole Miss, UNC, NC State, Tennessee, Colorado and MTSU.
Toshmon Stevens 6-5, 205, DE Crescent City, FL (Crescent City) Committed on 7/31/07
RANKINGS: Rivals -- 20th (DE), Rivals – 85th (Florida), ESPN 150 -- 63rd (DE)
Three-star lineman according to Rivals…PrepStar All-Region team…FSWAA All-State 2B First Team Defense…played football for a full season for the first time in 2006…in 2006 he recorded 37 tackles and eight sacks defensively and caught three passes for 50 yards and a TD as a tight end…as a senior he recorded 56 tackles and 12 sacks…Crescent City went 10-0 his senior season…also plays center for the basketball team at Crescent City…runs the 40 in 4.56, has a 30.5" vertical and maxes out at 285 on the bench…has a personal best of 6'8" in the high jump…placed twice in that event in the state finals…holds 17 offers and chose FSU over South Carolina, Tennessee, NC State, Virginia Tech, UCF and Arizona State.
Corey Surrency 6-5, 210, WR Miami, FL (El Camino CC/Southridge) Committed on 10/21/07
RANKINGS: Rivals -- 9th (Junior College 50)
Rivals lists him as a four-star wide receiver…one of the top junior college players in America…PrepStar Junior College All-American…this past season he had 30 receptions for more than 670 yards…had 23 catches for 432 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman in 2006…had six catches for 125 yards in the state championship game…runs a 4.45 in the 40…chose FSU over LSU, Oregon, West Virginia, Oregon State, Cal, Colorado, Louisville and Arizona.
Jermaine Thomas 6-1, 190, RB Jacksonville, FL (First Coast) Committed on 4/23/07
RANKINGS: ESPN 150 -- 47th, ESPN 150 -- 3rd (ATH), Rivals -- 15th (RB), Rivals – 49th(Florida)
Three-star back according to Rivals…Scouts, Inc. says Thomas is an outstanding prospect who has the "ability to create mismatches against most opponents" and considers him a player that could be a contributor as a true freshman…ESPN says Thomas has a "supreme blend of size and speed"…PrepStar All-Region team…AJC Super Southern 100…FSWAA All-State 4A Second Team Offense…rushed for 900 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior…played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl…chose FSU over LSU, Illinois, Georgia Tech, NC State, South Carolina and Purdue.
Markus White 6-4, 245, DE Lake Worth, FL (Butler CC/John I. Leonard) Committed on 12/10/07
RANKINGS: Rivals -- 3rd (Junior College)
Five star recruit according to Rivals…the only junior college player to move from four to five stars in the final Rivals Top 100…NJCAA Football Player of the Year…Region 6 Player of the Year…Prep Star Junior College All-American…NJCAA and JC Gridwire First Team All-American…named All-Jayhawk Conference…his Butler team finished the year 12-0 and was awarded a share of the 2007 NJCAA Football title after beating No. 1 Snow College 56-27…led the best junior college defense in the nation this past year…the Grizzlies' defense allowed just over 235 yards per game and a mere 11 points per contest…the Butler defense recorded four shutouts last season and went 15 consecutive quarters without allowing a point…set a Butler record with 24.5 sacks, which led the NJCAA…also led the nation with six forced fumbles…ranked 23rd in the nation with 97 tackles…recorded 14.5 tackles for loss…in his final game he had eight tackles, two for a loss, a sack, a pass deflection and a blocked PAT in defeating the No. 1 team in the country…was named the game's defensive MVP…played for defensive line coach Steve Braet at Butler who has coached 24 All-Americans and three NFL players… spent a brief period of time at Rutgers…ran the 40 in 4.55 and has a 30" vertical leap…chose FSU over Miami, Oklahoma, UNC, Arkansas, West Virginia, South Carolina and Kansas State.