Florida State football: Superlatives for the Seminoles' early signing day class
Florida State football announced 22 signees on the first day of the early signing period on Wednesday.
The Seminoles addressed most of their needs, adding 16 players from high school and JUCO, as well as six additional collegiate transfer signees.
FSU also added one more commitment Wednesday evening when 4-star DB Conrad Hussey flipped his commitment from Penn State.
KarelsFlorida State football: Analyzing the Seminoles' early signing period, 2023 recruiting class
Early signing period: Hear from Florida State's assistant coaches about newest signees
Florida State football recruiting: Uncommitted in-state DB Edwin Joseph signs with Seminoles
Head coach Mike Norvell has helped lead the Seminoles (9-3) to a turnaround in his third season. FSU will play Oklahoma (6-6) in the Cheez-It Bowl on Dec. 29 in Orlando.
It is the first bowl game since 2019 for the Seminoles and a chance at the first 10-win season since 2016.
Here is a look at the superlatives for the signing class for Norvell and his coaching staff.
BEST HIGH SCHOOL GET (OFFENSE):
Hykeem Williams, WR, Stranahan High (Fort Lauderdale)
The crown jewel of the FSU 2023 high school signing class, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound receiver is likely to make an immediate impact in a crowded room with the Seminoles.
Williams, a bonafide 5-star recruit, is ranked the No. 15 prospect in the nation, according to 247Sports. He is rated as the third-best receiver and the fourth-best player in the state of Florida.
In seven games as a senior, Williams caught 18 passes for 374 yards and five touchdowns, according to FSU's information packet.
He committed to FSU in September and signed his NLI on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period, despite other programs courting him into the final hours.
Andrew Ivins, Director of Scouting for@247sports, compared Williams to Falcons' legend Julio Jones.
RecruitingFlorida State receives verbal commitment from one of nation's top recruits in Hykeem Williams
BEST HIGH SCHOOL GET (DEFENSE)
Blake Nichelson, LB, Manteca High (Ripton, Calif.)
The 6-3, 215-pound linebacker is the highest-rated defensive signee for the Seminoles and just one of three prospects listed in the 247Sports Composite top 200.
FSU was named a finalist, along with UCLA and Oregon for his services, also beating out the likes of USC and Arizona, among others on the west coast.
Like Williams, Nichelson committed to the Seminoles back in September and kept his pledge solid throughout the process.
Nichelson played snaps at linebacker and at running back in high school. He recorded 93 tackles, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions and four forced fumbles in his high school career.
He'll likely play behind Tatum Bethune, Kalen DeLoach and DJ Lundy for major playing time as a redshirt freshman.
More:Florida State football beats major West Coast programs for linebacker recruit Blake Nichelson
BEST TRANSFER GET (OFFENSE)
Jaheim Bell, TE, South Carolina/Valdosta High (Georgia)
Bell was the top-ranked tight end and the No. 8 overall player, according to 247 Sports transfer rankings. He contributed in multiple ways for the Gamecocks' offense in his 30 games over three seasons.
For his career, he has 56 catches for 757 yards and seven touchdowns, to go along with 80 rushes for 301 yards and three touchdowns.
In 12 games (six starts) in 2022, Bell had 25 receptions for 231 yards and two TDs, adding 73 rush attempts, 261 yards and three scores.
Norvell, who has used players like NFL running backs Tony Pollard (Dallas Cowboys) and Antonio Gibson (Washington Commanders), in hybrid roles in his time at Memphis, will get an opportunity to get creative with Bell.
Bell was teammates with backup QB Tate Rodemaker in high school.
More:Florida State lands transfer commitment from South Carolina tight end Jaheim Bell
BEST TRANSFER GET (DEFENSE)
Darrell Jackson, DT, Miami/Gadsden County High
Brings more experience to the Seminoles' defensive end group. He has appeared in 25 collegiate games, including 12 starts. Jackson has recorded 49 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and one pass breakup with the Hurricanes.
Last season, as a sophomore, Jackson played in 12 games (11 starts), recording 27 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. He made a career-high seven tackles against UNC.
Jackson was teammates with defensive tackle Joshua Farmer locally, helping the Jaguars reach the semifinals of the 4A playoffs in his senior season.
More:Florida State football: Seminoles add Miami Hurricanes' transfer DT Darrell Jackson
BEST FLIP
Brock Glenn, QB, Lausanne Collegiate School (Tenn).
Glenn originally committed to Ohio State at the end of July, but Norvell said he and the staff kept in contact with the signal caller throughout the process. He de-committed from the Buckeyes on Nov. 21 and four days later committed to FSU.
The No. 13-rated QB prospect and No. 7 overall prospect in Tennessee is very much the future of the position for the Seminoles. As a sophomore, once Jordan Travis moves on, Glenn will squarely be in the race with Tate Rodemaker and AJ Duffy for the starting spot, giving 2024 QB commit Luke Kromenhoek a chance to redshirt as a freshman.
Glenn accounted for 4,500 yards of total offense and 68 touchdowns during his prep career. As a senior, he was 74-of-126 passing for 1,413 yards and 18 touchdowns, to go along with 443 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
More:Florida State recruiting: 2023 QB Brock Glenn flips commitment from Ohio State to Seminoles
WORST FLIP
Keldric Faulk, DE, Highland Home (Highland Home, AL)
FSU was able to hang onto the majority of its class, despite overtures from outside programs on many prospects in the 12th hour.
The loss of Faulk will sting, however, as the four-star prospect flipped his recruitment from the Seminoles, instead opting to sign with new head coach Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers.
Faulk committed to FSU on July 5 and made a trip to Tallahassee last weekend. But a surprise visit to Auburn on his trip home was enough to help the Tigers flip him.
He was rated as a top-100 recruit by each of the main recruiting sites: 247Sports (No. 8 defensive lineman, No. 73 overall), Rivals (No. 8 weakside defensive end, No. 79 overall) and On3 (No. 16 edge rusher, No. 93 overall).
Marvin Wilson and Joshua Kaindoh, 2017 signees, were the highest-rated defensive prospects for the Tigers prior to Faulk's commitment.
More:Early signing period: DE recruit Keldric Faulk flips from Seminoles to Auburn Tigers
DON’T OVERLOOK (OFFENSE)
Kyle Morlock, TE, Shorter/Union County High (Blairsville, Ga.)
While Bell was the big addition for the tight end position through the portal, Morlock shoulnd't be overlooked.
The two-time All-American at Shorter caught 57 passes for 890 yards and 11 touchdowns in 24 games. In 2022, he caught 30 balls for 446 yards and six scores in 11 games.
At 6-foot-7, Morlock and the 6-7 receiver Johnny Wilson could give teams fits in the red zone during the 2023 season, giving Travis two towering options for potential fades or jump balls.
More:Florida State stocked up at TE after landing transfer commitment from Shorter's Kyle Morlock
DON’T OVERLOOK (DEFENSE)
Quindarrius Jones, DB, Meridian High (Meridian, Miss.)
In his press conference, Norvell said that Jones could "play five or six different positions in a defense." Jones is likely to start out his career at safety, where FSU could have a need if Jammie Robinson decides to go pro.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back was ranked as the No. 24 athlete in the class by 247 Sports, starting on both sides of the ball for Meridian. He caught 24 passes for 426 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver.
His ability to catch the ball and play as a defensive back could give the Seminoles a major playmaker on the defensive side, which struggled with turning opponents over for much of the season.
More:Florida State earns verbal commitment from unranked 2023 defensive back Quindarrius Jones
NEED BEST ADDRESSED
Offensive line
Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins has definitely earned his check following the season his offensive line group and offensive had. He then added to his work with elite work in the transfer portal.
The Seminoles added five offensive linemen to their class, including three players through the transfer portal. UTEP offensive lineman Jeremiah Byers is the head of the class for the transfers, while Keiondre Jones (Auburn) and Casey Roddick (Colorado) could also make immediate impacts in 2023.
Incoming freshmen Lucas Simmons (6-8, 300) and Andre' Otto (6-5, 310) provide major size and will likely be eased into roles, with an opportunity to redshirt.
NEED STILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED
Defensive back
The Seminoles still feel light at the position, as it is unlikely they turn to their freshman for immediate playing opportunities.
Virginia CB Fentrell Cypress II is a name to keep on in the transfer portal. Cypress earned second-team All-ACC cornerback honors after recording 39 tackles and 14 passes defended in nine games.
Reach Ehsan at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @Ehsan_Kassim. 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: Early signing day: Superlatives for the FSU football early signing day class
