Florida State Just Reignited A Recruiting Battle With Florida

Florida State aims to sway a promising 2027 athlete from rival Florida, eyeing a potential shift in commitments during the upcoming SMU matchup.

Florida State is getting another crack at one of the most versatile players in its 2027 recruiting board, and the timing of this visit makes it a little more interesting.

Kamarion Johnson, a 2027 athlete from Clinch County High School in Homerville, Georgia, is expected to be in Tallahassee for Florida State’s game against SMU even though he is already committed to Florida. The Gators landed his pledge on June 5 after an official visit to Gainesville, but the Seminoles stayed in the mix before that decision and now get a chance to keep pushing after missing out the first time.

Johnson is listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds, and he has the kind of profile that gives recruiting staffs a lot to work with. He does a little bit of everything for Clinch County, and the production backs it up.

As a junior, Johnson hauled in 38 catches for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging nearly 22 yards per reception. He also made his presence felt on defense with 29 tackles, three tackles for loss and five interceptions. On top of that, he found the end zone three more times in the return game, scoring twice on punts and once on a kickoff.

That all-around production is a big part of why he’s such an intriguing evaluation. His instincts and ball skills fit naturally at safety, though plenty of people believe he’ll end up at cornerback in college.

Either way, his speed jumps off the page. Johnson ran an 11.33-second 100-meter dash and a 51.13 in the 400, and as a sophomore he finished fourth in the 400 at Georgia’s Class 1A Division II state meet.

He’s also a varsity basketball player, which only adds to the athletic profile Florida State would be trying to pull away from a rival.

Clinch County knows exactly what it has in Johnson. First-year head coach Lee Tinson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in August that the Panthers intended to move him around on offense and get the ball into his hands as often as possible. At a small-school Georgia program with a strong football tradition, Johnson has become the kind of player opponents have to account for on nearly every snap.

Florida won the first big recruiting battle here. Johnson’s connection with Florida defensive backs coach Chris Collins played a major role in his commitment, and he has also spoken highly of Gators head coach Jon Sumrall and the staff’s approach to recruiting him.

Still, a verbal commitment is not the end of the story. Florida State now gets its chance to keep working.

In Other News...

Former Florida State Transfers Are Off To Some Eye-Opening Starts

Opening weekend gave Florida State fans an early look at just how much talent has flowed out through the transfer portal, and plenty of those former Seminoles wasted little time making an impression elsewhere. The review of the first slate of games showed former FSU quarterbacks, defensive backs and other transfers logging meaningful snaps, with Pro Football Focus data helping paint the picture of who settled in quickly and who immediately became part of the action for their new teams.

Quarterback play drew some of the most attention, but it was not just the signal-callers who stood out. Players such as Earl Little Jr. and Joseph also showed up in the defensive numbers, while the report tracked everything from completions and rushing production to tackles and receptions allowed. For Florida State, it is another reminder that the transfer market can reshape rosters in a hurry, and that the Seminoles will keep seeing familiar names pop up on Saturdays as those new situations develop. [Read more 🡒]

Ann Bowdens Birthday Brings Back A Florida State Legacy Fans Cherish

Ann Bowden marked her 94th birthday on Sept. 7, a reminder of how deeply the Bowden family remains woven into Florida State history. As the longtime wife of legendary coach Bobby Bowden, she was part of the fabric of an era that still resonates with Seminole fans, and her move from Tallahassee to Alabama in 2025 brought a quiet shift for a family whose name has long carried special meaning in the programs story.

Even after leaving Tallahassee to be closer to family, Ann remains in good health, and her birthday offered another moment for fans to reflect on that legacy. The Bowden family home, sold at auction in March 2026, is now back on the market, with potential negotiations involving Seminole Boosters, Inc., keeping one more piece of that history very much in play. [Read more 🡒]

FSU Heads Into ACC Opener With A New Defensive Concern

Florida States ACC opener against SMU comes with the kind of pregame injury movement that can reshape a game plan before a snap is taken. The Seminoles have already ruled out senior linebacker Blake Nichelson and downgraded defensive lineman Darryll Desir to doubtful, adding another layer of uncertainty to a defense that now has to account for a few shifting pieces heading into conference play.

SMU has its own availability issues to sort through, with at least nine players listed as unavailable on its updated report, including key safety Ahmaad Moses and backup cornerback Jaden Milliner-Jones. For Florida State, the focus is less on the other sideline and more on how quickly the defense can absorb the latest changes and still settle in against an opponent that is managing a long list of absences of its own. [Read more 🡒]