Telling sign in Tallahassee?

Last season was Florida State’s worst finish in 16 years. The Seminoles went 8-4, and by their incredibly high standards, that was a horrible year. Still, FSU still was FSU in the recruiting wars. The Seminoles closed with a flurry and finished with yet another stellar recruiting class.

So what happens this recruiting season? Florida State is sitting at 7-3 and out of the National Championship race for the second straight season. FSU currently has six verbal commitments from some very good prospects. Once again, I expect Bobby Bowden and company to close with a bang and end up in the top 10 when the recruiting rankings are tabulated on Signing Day. But is Florida State losing some of its luster?

This past Saturday, Trey Chandler committed to Georgia over FSU. Chandler is an offensive tackle prospect from Buford, Ga. He has two former teammates at FSU, but he picked the Dawgs over the Seminoles. Chandler likes a lot of things about Georgia, especially their need of offensive linemen. But Florida State also lost this blue-chipper because of some things you never hear in the recruiting wars when it comes to FSU.

"It was very hard to do,” Chandler said. “But FSU is down now and that is two years in a row. It makes you think how long Bobby Bowden will be the coach at Florida State. I don't want to deal with that because I know coach [Mark] Richt will be at Georgia a long time."

In covering FSU recruiting for 11 years now, that was the first time I heard those reasons describing why a player did not choose Florida State. FSU no longer is the dominant recruiting team, as they have been for the past decade or so. Miami has now assumed that role and the Hurricanes now are the most popular team when it comes to recruiting. Across the nation, more big-time, blue-chip prospects are mentioning Miami over FSU and everyone else.

Lets face it, the ‘Canes are the defending national champs and the odds are in their favor of winning it all again. The Hurricanes have become a football feeder system for the NFL. The prospects love Head Coach Larry Coker and his staff. They play football in beautiful and sunny South Florida. These are some reasons why recruits love the University of Miami.

Two other benefactors of a possible FSU decline could be Florida and Notre Dame. One thing in the favor of the Gators is new head coach Ron Zook and his tireless work ethic in the recruiting wars. But coach Zook and his staff must overcome mediocrity. In other words, Florida has to win to prove to everyone that this is the same Florida, even with the departure of Steve Spurrier. It is vital to the Gators that they finish the season strong.

On the other hand, Notre Dame had nowhere to go but up. Head coach Tyrone Willingham will be a major factor in the future recruiting wars and on a national scale.

Obviously these are issues that the FSU coaching staff overcame last season and they will certainly have to overcome once again this year and down the line. After all, Bobby Bowden, a coaching legend, has to step down sooner or later. But as long as Bowden is the headman in Tallahassee, all should be well in the recruiting wars for Florida State. Just keep a close eye on what the recruits say if they select a school over Florida State.

OL Holler ready for trips

Joel Holler, a full academic qualifier, said his attention now is turning to the recruiting process. "Well, it all gets started on November 23 when I start my run of officials," he said. "On the 23rd, I go to Ohio State. On the 30th, I go to Virginia Tech. Then on December 6, I have Pittsburgh followed by Miami on the 13th. I'm not sure on the last one yet, but it'll probably be either Maryland or Pitt."

Holler said that last visit will be on December 20 because he would like to take five trips in five weeks before making a decision. "It'll give me a chance to compare them all at the same time of the year," he said. "I figure after five visits, I'll have a pretty good idea of what is best for me. I hope to have a final decision around Christmas."

Holler currently has scholarship offers from all of his favorites, except the Hurricanes.

-- Mike Bakas of TheInsiders.com

QB loves visit to Washington

Richard Kovalcheck, a 6-feet-3, 200-pound quarterback from San Diego (Calif.) St. Augustine returned home over the weekend from his third official visit of the year. The Washington Huskies hosted the strong-armed quarterback and are looking very good right now.

Kovalcheck already had been to Notre Dame and Colorado, but both have since taken quarterbacks (CU has two) and don't look like viable options right now. That puts the Huskies in the drivers seat although it looks like the quarterback may take one more visit before deciding anything.

"I loved Washington; it's a little more of what I'm used to," Kovalcheck said. "Notre Dame and Colorado were both nice but I think I'm more of a big city guy and that's how Washington is. Seattle is a nice place and I was more comfortable there than I was at the other two.

"It was cool to compare the game atmosphere at all three places because all three are known for being loud and supporting their teams. I think Notre Dame definitely has the loudest student section, but at Washington, the whole place was loud all game long. Colorado was in to it too but not quite like the other two.

"I would have liked to spent more time with coach [Rick] Neuheisal but I wasn't able to do that. I just want to know what he thinks of me and where I'm at on their list. After what I've gone through at the other two schools, I want to know if I'm the top guy or not."

Kovalcheck said Tennessee is very intriguing to him and although it's not set in stone, he'll likely take a visit there on November 29.

"They play Kentucky that weekend I believe," Kovalcheck said. "I'm also looking at Cal a little but I haven't talked with them about setting up a visit. I would like to be able to decide after I trip to Tennessee but I'm not going to rush anything, when I'm ready, I'll do it."

-- Greg Biggins, PacWestFootball.com

OL Lathan commits to N.C. State

At 6-5, 295 pounds, Green Cove Spring (Fla.) Clay County offensive lineman Luke Lathan decided to make the recruiting process a lot easier recently when he made a commitment.

"I committed to North Carolina State," Lathan said. "I like how they're building a program; it's one that's on the rise. Coach Amato is doing great things there. He took over an average program and has made them a top 20 team. It can only get better from there, too. Plus, they're about to build a $53 million facility with new buildings, practice fields, and stuff like that. I'm really excited and thought it was a great opportunity, too good to pass up."

The talented lineman said he is being told he can play either tackle or guard.

"They said I can play either, we'll figure that out later," he said. Lathan will, however, take some other visits. "I have N.C. State for November 23, but I'll also visit South Carolina in late December and Maryland on December 13. I'll probably take those, but I'm committed to N.C. State."

-- Mike Bakas of TheInsiders.com

QB Leak loves Texas

Quarterback Chris Leak will have a busy November and December. Leak, from Charlotte (N.C.) Independence High School, has already officially visited Florida back in October. Last weekend he tripped to Texas while this weekend he will officially visit Florida State. Meanwhile, the state playoffs start on Friday night.

"The Texas trip was just great," said Leak. "Everything they do is first class all the way. When I think of Texas I think of the Cowboys and I when I went to Austin I felt like a pro. It was really nice there."

Leak has now thrown for 171 touchdown passes. That is a national high school record that he set and broke last weekend against Vance High School. In that game, Leak threw for 450 yards and five scores.

"I still do not know who I will visit. It looks like it could be Iowa, Notre Dame or Southern Cal. I may take unofficial visits to Tennessee, NC State and UNC. I just do not know right now. I am open."

-- Jamie Newberg, TheInsidersRecruiting.com

Top southern corner names top five

Jeramie Johnson is one of the top cornerbacks in the South. He's ranked the No. 6 corner in the SEC/ACC region by BorderWars.com, and the No. 9 corner in the country by TheInsiders. He is extremely physical at the line of scrimmage, has excellent man-to-man coverage skills, and displays good instincts on the field. His Washington team begins the playoffs in two weeks.

"I've set up visits to Mississippi State and Georgia Tech," said Johnson. "I'm not sure what the dates are though. I like Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Auburn, Clemson, and North Carolina right now. Those are the 5 schools I want to try and visit."

Johnson has helped lead Washington to a 7-2-1 record with 33 tackles and 3 interceptions on the year. Washington has a bye week this week and will get ready for the playoffs that begin next week.

-- Scott Kennedy, BorderWars.com

 

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