CSNbbs

Signed a Letter of Intent with the Seminoles...

Anthony Kelly LB 6-3/230 Ellisville, MS (already enrolled at FSU)

Eugene Hayes LB 6.0 6-2/206 3 Greenville, FL

Antone Smith RB 6.1 5-8/181 1 Pahokee, FL (5-star player)

Fred Rouse WR 5* Player 6'4"/190 Tallahassee, FL (5-star player)

Russell Ball RB 5.9 5-9/165 3 La Marque, TX

Callahan Bright DT 6.1 6-2/315 2 Bryn Mawr, PA (5-star player)

Everette Brown DE 5.9 6-4/238 3 Wilson, NC

Matt Dunham ATH 5.8 6-2/233 14 Columbus, GA

Dan Foster LB 5.8 6-1/215 20 Blakely, GA

Graham Gano K 5.5 6-1/180 3 Cantonment, FL

Michael Ray Garvin DB 5.8 5-8/179 14 Ramsey, NJ (1st to sign)

Richard Goodman WR 5.6 6-0/175 43 Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Charlie Graham TE 5.3 6-3/230 NR Greenville, FL

Korey Mangum DB 5.5 6-0/180 40 LaMarque, TX

Justin Mincey DE 6.0 6-5/240 4 Folkston, GA

Neefy Moffett LB 5.8 6-1/215 15 Palm Bay, FL

Derek Nicholson LB 6.0 6-0/220 2 Winston Salem, NC

Rod Owens WR 5.7 6-0/170 34 Jacksonville, FL

Jamie Robinson DB 6.0 6-2/185 6 Rock Hill, SC

Kendrick Stewart DT 5.9 6-1/275 13 Lakeland, FL

Clarence Ward DB 5.9 6-0/175 6 Pensacola, FL

Quote:Posted on Wed, Feb. 02, 2005





Recruiting update: FSU's class growing

DEMOCRAT STAFF REPORT


The Florida State football office has received 12 signed letters of intent as of 1:25 p.m. today.

The list does not yet include Lincoln star Fred Rouse, who picked the Seminoles during a ceremony at Lincoln this afternoon.

Greg Carr, Emmanuel Dunbar and Anthony Kelly are already enrolled at FSU and count toward the 2004 signing class.

• Michael Ray Garvin (DB, 5-8, 179, Ramsey, N.J./Don Bosco Prep)

• Everette Brown (DE, 6-4, 238, Wilson, N.C./Beddingfield HS)

• Charlie Graham (TE, 6-3, 230, Greenville/Madison Co. HS)

• Rod Owens (WR, 6-0, 170, Jacksonville/Wolfson HS)

• Jamie Robinson (DB, 6-2, 185, Rock Hill, S.C./Northwestern HS)

• Richard Goodman (WR, 6-0, 170, Ft. Lauderdale/St. Thomas Aquinas HS)

• Dan Foster (LB, 6-2, 215, Blakely, Ga./Early Co. HS)

• Russell Ball (RB, 5-9, 165, La Marque, Texas/La Marque HS)

• Korey Mangum (DB, 6-0, 185, La Marque, Texas/La Marque HS)

• Graham Gano (P/K, 6-1, 180, Cantonment/Tate HS)

• Clarence Ward (DB, 6-0, 175, Pensacola/Pensacola HS)

• Kendrick Stewart (DT, 6-2, 275, Lakeland/Lakeland HS)

• Greg Carr (WR, 6-6, 200, Citra/North Marion HS)

• Emmanuel Dunbar (DT, 6-5, 265, Deerfield Beach/Deerfield Beach HS)

• Anthony Kelly (LB, 6-3, 230, Daytona Beach/Jones CC)

Add linebacker Geno Hayes to that list, he signed his LOI for FSU.

The Noles did it again... signed some of the best at the last minute... oh the drama of it all

Here is a list from the Rivals 100 list that committed to the Seminoles...

#6 Fred Rouse

#25 Antone Smith

#30 Derek Nicholson

#36 Eugene Hayes

#65 Justin Mincey

#66 Jamie Robinson

#78 Everette Brown

With the #1 WR Rouse and #1 RB Smith both signing their LOI with FSU we have to have a Top 5 class easily. :D :D :D :D

The Seminoles are up to #6 in the nation in team rankings and that's without our latest 5-star player Antone Smith . Just wait till he's included when they update the list... wooohoooo!!!!

Yup, the updated list just came out and the Seminoles are #5 !!! Miami is #7. Don't ya just love it that Antone Smith chose the Noles over the Canes!!! :D

We now have three 5-star players in this class!

This Seminole class is now ranked #4 in the nation, and it doesn't even have all the facts yet... like the Noles have three 5-star players. The list only shows 2 and we're still ranked at #4.

:D

Matt Hardrick OL, Ht: 6-5 Wt: 342 will be a Seminole. He chose FSU over Florida this evening. Way to go, Matt!

The Noles are up to #3 ranking with Hardrick and Callahan Bright committed to play for FSU. :D

Quote:Seminoles Marvel At Pleasant Surprises

By DOUG CARLSON
Tampa Tribune
Published: Feb 3, 2005


TALLAHASSEE - A familiar refrain from nearby and a surprise from deep in rival territory gave Florida State the strong finish to football recruiting season that it is accustomed to.

"It's amazing. It happens nearly every year,'' Coach Bobby Bowden said. "Yes, we did get some surprises late that made my day.''

Now he hopes it will elevate the Seminoles toward a return to playing for national championships in the years to come.

Tallahassee Lincoln wide receiver Fred Rouse got things started Wednesday when he donned an FSU cap and jersey, and announced he is staying home to play for his childhood favorite.

He is regarded as one of Florida's top prospects and one of the top prep receivers in the nation. He joined a long line of Lincoln High football players to sign with the hometown Seminoles.

The concern was whether Rouse would be turned off by struggles in the FSU offense that have led to sharp criticism of offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden.

"I talked with [him] and we got things straight,'' Rouse said.  "We ran through a couple of plays, seeing how he can get me the ball if I came to Florida State. He showed me at least 15 legitimate ways, and that impressed me.''

Later in the day, Pahokee running back Antone Smith shocked many recruiting observers when he, too, chose FSU. Speculation had him sticking close to home and playing for Miami, which loses starting tailback Frank Gore.

Smith, named Florida's Mr. Football after rushing for 2,814 yards and 44 touchdowns as a senior, kept his intentions well guarded throughout the recruiting process, leaving even FSU coaches wondering whether they had a shot at him.

After all, starting tailback Leon Washington and backup Lorenzo Booker return, along with a pair of solid freshman runners from a year ago in Lamar Lewis and Jamaal Edwards.

"I never felt confident we would get him until somebody told me today he called,'' Bowden said.  "I said, `He's too close to Miami, they just lost Gore, and that's where he's going to go.' ''

It got even better for Bowden when behemoth Bryn Mawr (Pa.) defensive tackle Callahan Bright (6-foot-2, 315 pounds) announced on ESPNews on Wednesday night he was choosing FSU over Texas A&M. He's the No. 2-rated prospect in the nation at his position, according to Rivals.com.

There was some concern about a lack of offensive linemen among the 19 signees officially announced by the school at a 4 p.m. news conference.

Later Wednesday evening, Orlando Edgewater offensive tackle Matt Hardrick reportedly signed with FSU after spending the day wavering between the 'Noles and rival Florida.

Either way, uncertainty about who would coach the offensive line next season might have played a role in the ones who got away.

Longtime FSU line coach Jimmy Heggins was forced out in early January and his replacement - Marshall offensive coordinator Mark McHale - wasn't officially announced until Tuesday.

McHale, however, did make some late phone calls to FSU line recruits, including Hardrick, while still employed by Marshall. FSU compliance coordinator Brian Battle confirmed the school has reported it to the NCAA as a secondary rules violation.

McHale could have officially accepted the FSU job earlier in January, which would have avoided the violation and possibly led to more success in attracting offensive linemen.

"The head football coach at Marshall [Bob Pruett] is one of my best friends in the coaching profession,'' Bowden said, explaining why he waited until the day before Signing Day to announce McHale's hiring.

"He asked me could he stay there until this past Saturday. I'd of loved to have had him here, but the most important thing is to get the right man. If you lose every prospect there is, it's better to get the right coach, so I was determined to do that,'' Bowden said.

"And then, too, I felt like I owed it to Bob Pruett not to bring Mark down here any sooner than Bob would let me.''

Still, the late push with players such as Rouse and Smith pushed FSU into the upper echelon as far as national recruiting services Scout.com and Rivals.com are concerned.

Overall, Bowden said a day of surprises, good and bad, produced a quality group that compares well with years when there wasn't as much uncertainty to deal with.

"We lost some guys I thought we had,'' Bowden said.  "But we got some guys I didn't think we could get.''

Florida State

Russell Ball RB 5-8/165 LaMarque, Texas

Everette Brown LB 6-2/230 Wilson (N.C.) Beddingfield

Greg Carr WR 6-6/200 Citra North Marion

Emmanuel Dunbar DT 6-5/265 Deerfield Beach

Matt Dunham LB 6-2/220 Columbus (Ga.) Parelli

Dan Foster LB 6-1/210 Blakely (Ga.) Early County

Graham Gano K 6-1/180 Gonzalez Tate

Michael Ray Garvin CB 5-8/178 Don Boscoe Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)

Richard Goodman WR 6-1/185 Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

Charlie Graham TE 6-3/228 Madison County

Geno Hayes LB 6-2/210 Madison Co.

Anthony Kelly LB 6-3/230 Daytona Beach Jones C.C.

Korey Mangum DB 5-10/180 LaMarque, Texas

Justin Mincey DE 6-6/240 Folkston (Ga.) Charlton County

Neefy Moffett ATH 6-1/215 Palm Bay

Derek Nicholson LB 6-0/220 Winston-Salem (N.C.)

Rod Owens WR 6-1/170 Jacksonville Wolfson

Jamie Robinson DB 6-2/185 Rock Hill (S.C) Northwestern

Fred Rouse WR 6-4/205 Tallahassee Lincoln

Kendrick Stewart DT 6-1/270 Lakeland

Antone Smith RB 5-9/190 Pahokee

Clarence Ward DB 5-11/175 Pensacola

Florida State came in 2nd in the Rivals.com team rankings as of today.

I'm ready for some football :D