Florida State’s Monday night matchup with No. 19 SMU at Doak Campbell Stadium is about more than just an early-season ACC test. It’s also a recruiting spotlight, with a deep visitor list headlined by several important targets across multiple classes.
The Seminoles are coming off a Week 0 outing against New Mexico State that didn’t fully put the game away, even with plenty hanging over head coach Mike Norvell. But Norvell has still built momentum on the recruiting trail, including the sixth-best transfer portal class this offseason according to 247Sports. Now he gets another chance to sell the program in front of a strong group of prospects in one of the ACC’s biggest early games.
Florida State’s visitor list for the SMU game includes recruits from the classes of 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Class of 2027:
- Errol Demontagnac (Nebraska)
- Theo Wilson (UNC)
- Isaac Andrews (Kennesaw State)
Class of 2028:
- QB Chandler Dyson (GA)
- S Jaden Keelen (LA)
- OT Nation Farmer (FL)
- EDGE Kameron McGee (IL)
- DL Prince Che (GA)
- OT Nijal Thigpen (FL)
- TE King Fuller (GA)
Class of 2029:
- EDGE DJ Washington (AL)
- S Alejandro Torres (GA)
The 2028 group stands out in particular. Chandler Dyson, Jaden Keelen, Nation Farmer and Kameron McGee are all described as major targets for the Seminoles, and Florida State will have them on campus for a game that should carry plenty of energy.
That’s the kind of setting programs want when they’re trying to make a lasting impression. A strong showing on the field can help, especially with recruits watching how Florida State handles a ranked opponent. The 2028 class is already drawing heavy attention nationally, and the Seminoles have a chance to make their case in front of some of the best names on their board.
Florida State also isn’t letting go of the 2027 class just yet. Demontagnac, Wilson and Andrews are all set to visit, with Demontagnac and Wilson standing out as notable late-cycle flip possibilities. The Armwood High School duo has drawn attention, and Norvell will have them on hand for one of the season’s biggest early chances to impress.
It may not be the most explosive recruiting weekend Florida State can stage, but the opportunity is still clear. Beating SMU would matter.
Showing progress in areas like the offensive line would matter too. And for the recruits in attendance, that could go a long way.
In Other News...
Tommy Castellanos Is Now At Center Of An NCAA Eligibility Fight
Tommy Castellanos has found himself at the center of a broader NCAA eligibility fight that could reach far beyond one player or one season. The new five-for-five system was supposed to give Division I athletes five continuous years to play five seasons, but the Class of 2022 was left out of that change and then caught in a legal tug-of-war when a federal judge granted that group a temporary fifth season before the NCAA appealed and the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put the ruling on hold.
For Florida State, the immediate significance is obvious: Castellanos is among the individual athletes who have already secured separate court injunctions that let them compete and move through the transfer portal despite NCAA restrictions. His case sits in the middle of a messy, unresolved legal landscape, and it underscores how much player movement now depends not just on roster decisions or coaching changes, but on the latest court order attached to eligibility. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Already Faces Pressure To Hold Onto A Key Commit
Florida States recruiting picture took another hit with ZaKari Johnson, a four-star athlete in the 2027 class, appearing to reopen his recruitment while preparing to visit Texas A&M. Johnson had been committed to the Seminoles, and his profile as both a wide receiver and defensive back made him one of the more important early pledges in the cycle, especially for a program trying to keep its future class on steady ground.
Texas A&Ms push adds another layer of pressure for Florida State at a time when uncertainty around the coaching situation and financial limitations is already making the Seminoles work harder to protect their commitments. The Aggies have the kind of resources that can make a recruiting battle difficult to win, and if Florida States situation shifts again, the concern is not just losing Johnson but watching other young targets start to look elsewhere too. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Running Backs Think Last Week Was Only The Beginning
Sam Singleton Jr. drew some well-earned praise this week from running backs coach Kam Martin, who liked what he saw out of the Florida State back in his recent performance. The message from Martin was not just about celebrating one good outing, though. It was about carrying that momentum forward and keeping the position group moving in the right direction as the Seminoles continue to sort out who can consistently handle meaningful touches.
There is still a clear edge to the way Martin is talking about the room, and that matters for a group trying to establish itself behind the scenes. Florida State has reasons to feel encouraged after Singletons surge, but the staff is also pushing for the kind of weekly growth that turns one promising performance into something more dependable. For a backfield still trying to prove its ceiling, the next step is the one that will tell the real story. [Read more 🡒]