3-star DL Tavion Gadson believes in the future of Florida State

Florida State, Kentucky, Minnesota and Tennessee made the top four for Savannah (Ga.) Jenkins three-star defensive lineman Tavion Gadson. The Volunteers impressed Gadson, while the Golden Gophers got a June 10 official visit from the 6-foot-5, 265 pound prospect.

But the Seminoles were always high on Gadson’ list since they offered him. He has been to Tallahassee multiple times, most recently for an official visit on June 24.

In the spring, he started to have a good feeling about Florida State and felt like a priority to the coaching staff. A few months later, he made it official, announcing his commitment to the Seminoles on Thursday.

“From the beginning, Florida State made me feel like I was their No. 1 guy,” Gadson told On3. “The attention they showed me was always strong. They showed a lot of love and attention and that never changed.”

Florida State’s coaching staff made a difference for Gadson

Gadson said that since the Seminoles offered him, they have been recruiting him hard. Head coach Mike Norvell, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, defensive tackles coach Odell Haggins and special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach John Papuchis are some of the Florida State coaches that Gadson has spoken with.

Off-the-field staffers, including director of high school relations Ryan Bartow, communicated with the defensive lineman as well. These relationships, as well as connections with players, meant a lot to Gadson and contributed to his decision to pick the Seminoles.

“The biggest reasons I chose Florida State was the environment there, how it felt like family, and the way they recruited me,” Gadson said. “The vibe there is like family. The players are like brothers. I love how the coaches are with the players too. Everything at Florida State just comes together like one big family. The love is there and I want to be part of that.”

Gadson, the No. 689 overall prospect and No. 75 defensive lineman in the 2023 On3 Consensus, also believes in Norvell’s vision for the program. Despite an 8-13 record over his first two seasons in Tallahassee, Norvell has found success on the recruiting trail and hopes to lead Florida State to its first winning regular season since 2019.

“I believe in coach Norvell a lot,” said Gadson, who On3 ranks as the No. 55 defensive lineman in the 2023 cycle. “What he has going on is going to bring Florida State back. I see Florida State climbing back to the top. The way he is building the team, how the players play for each other, and I love his approach. His actions match his words and the Florida State will be back soon.”

Gadson has felt a connection with the Seminoles for a long time

The Georgia native estimates he has visited Florida States five or six times. He shared that each visit was better than the next and he started to have a “home-feeling at Florida State” this spring.

Gadson’s commitment provides a boost to the Seminoles’ 2023 recruiting class, which began the day ranked No. 18 in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings and No. 4 in the ACC. He is currently the group’s second defensive lineman alongside New Bern (N.C.) four-star Keith Sampson Jr.

Even though he announced his commitment today, Gadson made his final decision between two and three weeks ago. Now, he is bound for Tallahassee.

“Around the middle of July, I knew it was Florida State,” Gadson said. “They were always up there, but some other schools were on my mind too, but in July, I knew it. I thought about it a lot and my feelings were strong for Florida State.”