Florida State continues to build out its defensive trenches, officially signing three-star defensive lineman Wihtlley Cadeau out of Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta. At 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds, Cadeau brings a big frame and plenty of raw potential to Tallahassee - the kind of projectable size that defensive line coaches love to work with.
Cadeau first committed to the Seminoles back in June, choosing FSU over a solid list of offers that included Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, UCF, Purdue, and Cincinnati. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, he checks in as the No. 739 overall prospect in the country, the No. 82 defensive lineman, and the No. 79 player in the state of Georgia. ESPN is even higher on him, ranking him as the No. 40 defensive lineman nationally.
Now, let’s be clear - Cadeau isn’t expected to make an instant impact. He’s a developmental piece, likely to work on the interior of the defensive line, and he’ll need some time in the weight room and with the nutrition staff to reshape his body before seeing meaningful snaps.
But the upside is there. He’s got the length and frame to carry more good weight without sacrificing athleticism, and that gives FSU a moldable piece who could grow into a reliable rotational contributor down the line.
During his senior season at Booker T. Washington, Cadeau recorded 39 tackles, five tackles for loss, and one sack - solid production for a player still refining his game.
He’s shown flashes of disruption and the kind of motor coaches love to coach up. With the right development, he could become a steady presence in the middle of Florida State’s defensive front.
This signing continues Florida State’s trend of investing in long, athletic defensive linemen who may not be finished products yet, but who bring the physical tools and mindset to develop into something more. Cadeau fits that mold - a high-upside interior lineman with the potential to grow into a key piece of the rotation in the years to come.
For a program that prides itself on defensive line play, adding another big body with upside like Cadeau is another step in the right direction.