Florida State’s work in the trenches this summer has already started to show up on the recruiting board, and the Seminoles are now looking ahead to the next wave of defensive line talent.
The latest name on that list is Nikolas Stevens, a four-star defensive lineman in the 2028 class who picked up a scholarship offer from Florida State earlier this month. Stevens made the news public on social media and specifically mentioned Terrance Knighton in doing so.
Stevens is very much a rising prospect. Miami, Penn State, LSU, Ohio State, Kentucky, Colorado, and Virginia Tech are among the schools that have already offered him this offseason, and he has taken recent visits to Penn State, Ohio State, LSU, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Miami, and Tennessee.
Blessed to have earned a offer from Florida State University!!!! #AGTG #GoSeminoles🍢❤️💛 @Coach_Knighton @tanksdaman2 @DenocD @DavisEra_ @CoachMcGregor @DMCoachbrown6 pic.twitter.com/ZnwkNsWjQr
His stock got another boost in June when he was named the Defensive Line MVP at UA Next Baltimore. Before that, Stevens helped DeMatha Catholic High School go 11-0 in his sophomore season and win a second straight state championship.
At 6-foot-3 and 283 pounds, Stevens checks in as the No. 162 overall prospect, the No. 19 defensive lineman, and the No. 7 player in Maryland in the 2028 cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite Ratings.
Florida State’s push for Stevens comes after a strong summer on the defensive front. The Seminoles landed five pledges along the defensive line, including four-star defensive lineman Sam LeJeune, three-star defensive end Jaxon Holly, and reclassified defensive end Meshi Dobson.
That run has made it clear that the pairing of defensive line coach Terrance Knighton and EDGEs coach Nick Williams is starting to produce for Florida State. The Seminoles may still be searching for one more piece in the trenches and also need to keep their current commitments intact, but they can already start building toward the future.
Florida State currently has two verbal commitments in #Tribe28, which is ranked No. 7 nationally.
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