Florida State football coaches looking to take advantage of LSU win on recruiting trail

Blake Nichelson wanted to see how the Florida State linebackers looked.

So the Manteca (Calif.) High product, who is one of the top linebacker recruits in the 2023 class, watched from start to finish as the Seminoles defeated LSU 24-23 at the Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday.

Nichelson holds scholarship offers from practically every major college football program on the West Coast, but FSU is widely considered to be the favorite to eventually receive his verbal commitment. The Seminoles seemed to only improve their chances with him after winning on a national stage.

A call from FSU head coach Mike Norvell the next morning also helped.

Column from FSU's win over LSU: Florida State football in position to have best season in several years after LSU win | Karels

Inside FSU's blocked extra point vs. LSU: Deep dive and analysis on game-clinching blocked extra point against LSU

More from FSU vs. LSU: Game recap: Florida State Seminoles defeat LSU Tigers after crazy finish

“Having the head coach call me after a big win like that just really shows their interest level in me. That is a great look,” Nichelson told the Democrat.

“They reached out to me and asked, ‘What did you think about the win?’ They were talking about, ‘I told you how we were going to use our talent this year. You could be a part of that as well.’”

To capitalize on their victory over the Tigers, Norvell and his coaching staff are looking to be aggressive on the recruiting trail. The ideal timing of the win could help the Seminoles build tangible momentum in the 2023 and 2024 classes.

For starters, FSU won a standalone game in a prime-time slot. High school recruits also were more available than usual on the next day, Labor Day, because they were off from school. And starting on Sept. 1, the NCAA legalized college coaches initiating contact with 2024 recruits.

So the Seminole coaches, who will not have to plan for a game this week, began to heavily communicate with their top 2023 and 2024 recruiting targets Monday. Even the recruits who are already verbally committed to FSU have been contacted by the Seminole coaches.

More from FSU vs. LSU: Florida State, Jordan Travis beat LSU on blocked extra point kick | 5 takeaways

FSU pledge Kameron Davis, one of the top 2024 running backs from Albany (Ga.) Dougherty, told the Democrat that he heard from Norvell, running backs coach David Johnson, offensive coordinator Alex Atkins and defensive backs coach Marcus Woodson all on Monday.

“They have some juice on the recruiting trail, and probably some juice that they haven’t had in a while,” said Andrew Ivins, 247Sports’ Southeast recruiting analyst. “And in the lead up to this game, I kept saying that this was setting up where it’s going to work perfect for the Seminoles if they take down LSU. …

“I anticipate it leading to some commitments. And maybe if not commitments, it is definitely going to sway some things in certain key recruiting battles.”

If the Seminoles land a commitment within the next week, it would probably be from Nichelson. He named FSU as one of his top three schools – along with Oregon and UCLA – in early July before taking a four-day recruiting trip to Tallahassee later that month.

The expectation is that Nichelson will announce his decision soon.

“I had a great impression of them, especially after that game,” Nichelson said. “The way they play linebacker is, they are kind of all over the place. That is kind of how I play already. So that is a good look for them. And also seeing one of their linebackers (DJ Lundy) score on offense was pretty cool too.

FSU adds Penn State transfer: 'A good all-around back': Analyzing new Florida State football transfer Caziah Holmes

“Overall, it was probably one of the best games I’ve seen in a long time. The fans coming all the way down to New Orleans and the game itself, seeing FSU and just the way that they played, overall it was a great look for them.”

Ivins analyzed a few other Seminole recruiting topics below.

Closer look at Florida State’s 2023 recruiting class

No uncommitted 2023 recruit might be more important to FSU than Hykeem Williams, a five-star wide receiver from Stranahan High in Fort Lauderdale.

The Seminoles could benefit from Williams attending their win over the Tigers. He included FSU – along with Texas A&M, Georgia, Alabama, Miami and Pittsburgh – in his top six school list last month and plans to make his verbal pledge public on Sept. 23.

“He would probably be the best receiver they have signed since I’ve been doing this,” said Ivins, who started working for 247Sports in 2015.

With 14 2023 commits, FSU has a majority of its upcoming class verbally secured. So the Seminoles are still pursuing and evaluating a select number of 2023 recruits. The three major recruiting websites – On3 (19), 247Sports (23) and Rivals (31) – each rank the class among the top 35 nationally.

Williams and Nichelson are two of FSU’s top priorities and will be worth monitoring this month. Offensive lineman DJ Chester and running back Michael Mitchell (Utah commit) are among other 2023 recruits to watch.

Ivins said to keep an eye on in-state defensive backs Damari Brown and Conrad Hussey (Penn State commit).

“Those recruitments are ones where this (LSU) win helps you out even more,” Ivins said.

How the Seminoles will approach their quarterback recruiting remains to be seen. They have yet to offer a scholarship to a quarterback since Chris Parson decommitted from their class in July.

One candidate to receive an offer could be the in-state Emory Williams, a three-star quarterback pledged to the University of Miami. Multiple FSU coaches were present to evaluate Williams when his Milton High team played Seminole cornerback commit Ja’Bril Rawls’ Pensacola Catholic last Thursday.

Ivins also attended the game, a 26-14 Pensacola Catholic win.

Q&A with FSU AD Michael Alford: Florida State AD Michael Alford analyzes new College Football Playoff format | Q&A Part III

“I know it was a loss, but I thought he was pretty impressive,” said Ivins about Williams, who finished 17 of 32 for 146 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions while turning 10 carries into 30 yards.

“Definitely some tools to work with. Obviously he’s got the frame (6-foot-4, 190 pounds). It’s kind of funny, because he is bigger than pretty much all of the offensive linemen who play in front of him.

“I still think he’s a developmental guy. But he’s got the arm. He’s got the size. He just needs to put it all together. Definitely the arrow is trending up for him.”

Could Florida State commit Roderick Kearney flip to Florida?

FSU might be in jeopardy of losing offensive line commit Roderick Kearney to one of its rivals.

Kearney, a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, verbally pledged to the Seminoles in late June. But he took an unofficial visit to Florida over the weekend and attended its 29-26 win over Utah on Saturday.

And per a 247Sports report, Kearney plans to visit Gainesville again this Saturday to watch the Gators play Kentucky.

“I wouldn’t hit the panic button now,” Ivins said. “But if Florida had won and FSU had lost, then I definitely think you would panic. …

“That win allows Florida State to play some defense. I think there are a lot of schools who were sizing up Florida State’s commit list and saying, ‘Hey, what could we potentially poach?’

“Well, now Florida State is 2-0 and you are on a bye week. It’s the perfect time.”

More on FSU coach David Johnson: 'I am New Orleans': Florida State football coach David Johnson returning home for LSU game

Closer look at Florida State’s 2024 class

Davis attended FSU’s win over LSU and was not surprised by the result.

“I had been telling a lot of people that I felt like we were going to win that game,” Davis said. “And a lot of people had been doubting us the last couple months. Especially since last year with us not being able to finish a lot of the games.

“So it was really the team showing the faith that I have in them is actually real. I don’t really have to hope. I know that they can go out onto the field every game and put on a show.”

Plenty of other 2024 recruits seem to feel the same way.

The Seminoles boast a six-pledge class that ranks in the top five nationally on 247Sports (2), Rivals (2) and On3 (5). Davis represents the top-ranked commit and is joined by quarterback Luke Kromenhoek, wide receiver Camdon Frier, safeties Jordan Pride and CJ Heard, and defensive lineman Keishawn Mashburn.

Ivins called Kromenhoek the "early crown jewel" of the group despite his three-star status. The Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine Military School product has impressed so far in his first season as a starting high school quarterback.

So much so that Ivins expects Kromenhoek to significantly elevate in 247Sports' recruiting rankings.

“I saw him play two weeks ago in Miami. I think he has the chance to be special,” Ivins said. “He’s got the tools to work with. We will see what happens and how the rest of the junior season goes.

More FSU football recruiting: Florida State football beats Kentucky for 2023 defensive back Kenton Kirkland

“But it’s easy to see after you get that live exposure why Mike Norvell and the rest of that offensive staff took him so early.

“I think Luke is a guy who some of these other schools – Florida, Penn State – are going to show right up, kick the tires and see if they can get him on campus. So he’s the big name in 2024.”

Florida State's 2023 recruiting class

Below are the 14 recruits currently committed to Florida State's 2023 class, along with what their ranking is on 247Sports.

Wide Receiver

Three-star Vandrevius Jacobs - Vero Beach High - Fort Pierce, Fla. - No. 79 wide receiver

Three-star Darren "Goldie" Lawrence - Seminole High - Sanford, Fla. - No. 42 wide receiver

Offensive Line

Four-star Lucas Simmons - Clearwater Academy International - Clearwater, Fla. - No. 8 offensive tackle, No. 60 overall

Four-star Roderick Kearney - Orange Park High - Orange Park, Fla. - No. 6 interior offensive lineman, No. 155 overall

Running back

Four-star Samuel Singleton - Fleming Island - Orange Park, Fla. - No. 14 running back

Defensive End

Four-star Lamont Green Jr. - Gulliver Prep - Miami - No. 26 edge rusher, No. 226 overall

Three-star junior college transfer Jaden Jones - Hutchinson CC - Montgomery, Ala. - No. 1 defensive lineman, No. 4 overall in JUCO

Four-star Keldric Faulk - Highland Home - Highland Home, Ala. - No. 14 defensive lineman, No. 115 overall

Defensive Tackle

Four-star Keith Sampson Jr. - New Bern High - New Bern, N.C. - No. 22 defensive lineman, No. 145 overall

Three-star Tavion Gadson - Jenkins - Savannah, Ga. - No. 53 defensive lineman

Linebacker

Three-star DeMarco Ward - Duluth High - Duluth, Ga. - No. 108 linebacker

Defensive Back

Four-star Kenton Kirkland - Raines - Jacksonville, Fla. - No. 28 safety

Three-star Quindarrius Jones - Meridian High - Meridian, Ms. - No. 107 athlete

Three-star Ja'Bril Rawls - Pensacola Catholic - Pensacola, Fla. - No. 96 cornerback

Reach Carter Karels at ckarels@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @CarterKarels. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).

No one covers the ‘Noles like the Tallahassee Democrat. Subscribe using the link at the top of the page and never miss a moment.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football: Seminoles' win over LSU could help with recruiting