Florida State Faces A New Test Keeping This Top 100 Safety

Despite persistent recruitment efforts from other top programs, Ta'Shawn Poole remains steadfast in his commitment to Florida State.

Top 100 safety Ta'Shawn Poole is still locked in with Florida State, even with a handful of other programs continuing to push for his attention.

Poole, a Macon (Ga.) Howard High standout, was back in action Friday in his team’s 56-6 loss at Valdosta High. He showed up repping the Seminoles with an FSU skullcap and gloves, then backed it up on the field with an interception and a sack against an opponent ranked roughly 200 spots higher in the MaxPreps Georgia power rankings.

“At the next level you're gonna play with guys either better than you or just on the same level as you,” Poole told 247Sports. “So me playing against them guys, they had great players all across the field from quarterbacks to the O-line, to the D-line, all the way back. That was a great game for me to learn from.”

The country’s No. 85 overall prospect remains committed to Florida State as he looks ahead to the 2026 campaign, and he said he’ll get to Doak later in the season for visits, though he didn’t have specific games lined up as of Friday night.

“Florida State for sure,” Poole said. “We’ll see about other schools right now.”

There are still schools trying to work their way back into the picture, including three SEC programs, as they continue to recruit Poole and hope to get him on campus. The source also noted New Mexico State. But for now, Poole’s message is clear: the Seminoles are still the team he’s pledged to.

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