Florida State is waiting on a decision from one of the top safety recruits in the country, and the announcement date is now set.
Poole will commit live on 247’s youtube channel at 6pm. The Macon, Georgia native is ranked 68th nationally in 247’s Composite overall rankings, and his recruitment has taken on a late twist with Georgia joining Florida State on the official visit schedule.
Even with that wrinkle, the Seminoles have been trending in the right direction since Poole visited Tallahassee in the middle of June. FSU still appears to be in the best position heading into what is expected to be a mid-July announcement, though some believe this recruitment could still carry into December.
There’s also optimism inside Florida State about a couple of players who could help shape the season on the field.
Chris Jones, who led the Sun Belt with 135 tackles last season at Southern Miss, arrived in Tallahassee as a 6-foot-1, 230-pound addition expected to step right in as a starter. That’s still the feeling coming out of spring practice, where FSU sources viewed him as a high-level producer for the Seminoles.
“I could see him having a big year,” a source said. “He’s a really good player.”
The same kind of buzz is building around Ousmane Kromah.
“He could have a big year,” a source said. “He’s grown a lot just from the mental side of the game.
You could always see the physical skills with him, but last year, he didn’t arrive until the summer and didn’t go through spring ball and it was just a lot on him mentally trying to understand stuff like protections. Now, having gone through a season and this offseason, you can see him a lot more comfortable with that to where his game, it shows up more and a lot more consistently.
Florida State’s offense is built around the run, and in the 3-3-5 defense, linebackers matter just as much. If Jones and Kromah both put together nationally relevant seasons, that could be a major step in getting the Seminoles back to being a very good football team.
Elsewhere around the program, FSU Hoops was back in the gym for some organized tem activity, and Coach Desma is entering her fourth year as a Seminole.
On the pro side, Jamir Watkins has signed a two-day deal with the Washington Wizards. He’ll get a chance to make an impression in summer league, and if he earns a roster spot, he would be eligible for a maximum of 50 games this upcoming season.
In Other News...
Florida State Just Got The Kind Of Respect Fans Wanted Back
Florida States offseason buzz picked up another notch with seven players landing on Athlon Sports preseason All-ACC lists, a sign the Seminoles are getting the kind of respect fans have been waiting to see again. The group is spread across both sides of the ball, with a mix of proven production and younger names that give the roster a more balanced look heading toward the 2026 season.
The recognition matters because it suggests Florida State is no longer being viewed through the lens of a single star or one good stretch. The defense has multiple players drawing notice, while the offense has enough playmaking talent to keep the Seminoles in the conversation before the season even starts, and the next question is whether that preseason belief turns into the kind of on-field consistency that actually changes the ACC picture. [Read more 🡒]
National Ranking Just Sent Florida State Fans A Message About Duce Robinson
Pro Football Focus annual Top 50 college football players list gave wide receivers plenty of attention, but Florida States Duce Robinson was not among the five at the position who made the cut. For a Seminoles offense trying to lean on proven playmakers, that kind of omission stands out, especially when Robinsons numbers from last season stacked up favorably against several of the receivers who did land on the list.
Robinson finished with 1,081 receiving yards, third in the ACC, and his yards per catch and receiving yards per game both sat near the top of the conference. He has already been tabbed a preseason All-American by Phil Steele and placed ninth among draft-eligible receivers, so the broader industry view on him is hardly lacking, even if one of the sports most visible rankings chose a different path. [Read more 🡒]
National Praise Is Building For FSU Everywhere But Quarterback
Athlon Sports preseason All-ACC teams gave Florida State a healthy dose of recognition, with seven Seminoles spread across four tiers and wide receiver Duce Robinson landing as the lone first-team pick. Mandrell Desir, JaBril Rawls, Chris Jones, Micahi Danzy, Ousmane Kromah and Daniel Lyons also earned spots on the list, a sign that the national view of the roster is warming to the talent around the program even as the Seminoles try to reset after consecutive disappointing seasons.
The bigger question, though, sits at the games most important position, where Florida State is still working to build trust while integrating a new offensive line and a wave of transfers. The skill talent is drawing attention, but the preseason respect stops short of answering whether the Seminoles have enough certainty under center to turn that promise into a real step forward. [Read more 🡒]