“Win Florida” was the primary recruiting objective Willie Taggart and his staff set when they took over at Florida State. That strategy meant focusing on the top 25 players in the state, the true difference makers. Upon their arrival, the staff felt recruiting the state of Florida, better than anyone else, would be the quickest route back to competing for a National Championship.

As a Florida native, Taggart knows the Sunshine State is loaded with talent.

“It’s where everybody in the country recruits,” Taggart told Noles247 last June. “When I say everyone, EVERYONE comes to Florida to recruit. People think just because you’re here, you’re easier, but it’s harder because there’s so many people in here trying to get the same guys you’re trying to get.”

A year ago, the recruiting mantra at FSU was “If we win Florida, we win”. However, at some point that focus was lost and the Seminoles did not win the state of Florida in 2019.

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During the spring evaluation period and into the summer, the staff started chasing top-tier players in other states and continued to do so down the stretch heading into National Signing Day. Nakobe Dean and Derick Hall in Mississippi, Sean Dollars and Kayvon Thibodeaux in California, Kardell Thomas and Lance LeGendre in Louisiana, Arjei Henderson and Darwin Barlow in Texas, Dawand Jones in Indiana, including three back breaking decommitments at the end of the cycle from Charles Cross, Nick Cross and Sam Howell — all of them out of state recruits.

Who won Florida in 2019?

Using the 247Sports Class Calculator for the top 25 players in the state, it went like this… Alabama, followed by Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Clemson and Miami.

Here’s a look at who won Florida based on the top 25 recruits in the state:

Alabama - Trey Sanders, Evan Neal, Jordan Battle, Braylen Ingraham (107.99)

Georgia - Nolan Smith, Tyrique Stevenson, Rian Davis, Kenny McIntosh (104.47)

Florida - Kaiir Elam, Khris Bogle, Keon Zipperer, Diwun Black (101.25)

FSU - Akeem Dent, Brendan Gant, Travis Jay, Dontae Lucas (97.28)

Clemson - Frank Ladson, William Putnam, Tyler Davis (76.81)

Miami - Jeremiah Payton, Keontra Smith (49.43)

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This time last year, the Seminoles were strong contenders for a lot of the top prospects, but then the season started. It’s been rehashed plenty already, a 5-7 season coupled with the lack of local connections burned FSU down the stretch. The ‘Noles national brand was not strong enough to overcome a down year on the field and FSU stumbled to a No. 18 overall finish in 2019.

FSU can’t make that mistake again in 2020.

It’s only the first quarter of the recruiting cycle, but FSU is already playing catch-up. The coaching staff spent a majority of their time in January recruiting the 2019 class while most programs had moved on to 2020. The results are beginning to show. FSU’s March Junior Day was an indication that FSU lacks major appeal this year with big-time prospects. They’ll have more visitors on campus this weekend and again for the spring game, but the state race is already underway with UF and Miami leading the charge.

Top 25 commitments from the state of Florida:

Florida - Leonard Manuel, Gervon Dexter, Johnnie Brown,

Miami - Don Chaney Jr., Bryan Robinson, Samuel Anaele

Florida State - None

Oregon - Avantae Williams

Georgia - Carson Beck

Penn State - Derek Wingo

A majority of the top 25 in Florida are uncommitted and FSU will certainly take a piece of the pie. However, Florida and Miami are out in front and in position to take a few more from this LIST.

It’s still early in the 2020 cycle, but as of now, the ‘Noles are the Crystal Ball leader for only one player in the top 25 and that’s for Lawrance Toafili who comes in at 24 on the top 25. The Crystal Ball is just one indication that FSU has ground to make up in-state. Recruiting looks and feels differently than it did a year ago. The excitement and hope has simmered, the five-star prospects visiting from all corners of the country has slowed down and the other two in-state powers have seized momentum.

Now is the time to get back to recruiting what got FSU to the top -- the state of Florida. Turning a program around begins with recruiting. Luckily for the coaching staff, the best talent in the country can be found in their own backyard.



The FSU staff has plenty of time and plenty of opportunities to regain momentum in the state of Florida. Nearly every day this spring, the staff will have prospects coming through campus to visit or catch a spring practice. FSU will hit the road for the evaluation period in May and return to campus to host instructional recruiting camps in June, followed by the big end of the summer event, Saturday Night Live, in July.

There’s still time to win back the state and it must happen if FSU is going to return to prominence.