5-stars Cedric Baxter, Hykeem Williams spotted together at Florida State

Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater five-star running back and Texas commit Cedric Baxter Jr. is back in Tallahassee, Fla., for the second straight weekend.

And Baxter was hanging out pregame at Doak S. Campbell Stadium with Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Stranahan five-star wide receiver and Florida State commit Hykeem Williams.

Williams is the cornerstone of the 2023 Seminoles recruiting class, which Baxter was a part of for about eight months in late 2020 and early 2021.

On3 Director of Scouting Chad Simmons said that Florida State is a threat to flip the highly-regarded running back.

“I think actions do speak louder than words, but this time, I would lean a little more toward the words today. Let’s see what happens a week or so from now after the visit,” Simmons said Monday on The Inside Scoop. “FSU, look, that’s his dream school. He was committed there at one time; he loves Florida State for Florida State. He watched that program growing up; he knows about their history and their winning under Bobby Bowden. And he knows what Mike Norvell is trying to do.”

On3 has Baxter as the No. 1 running back and No. 22 prospect in the 2023 On300 ranking.

Cedric Baxter Jr. Scouting Summary

Big-framed runner with home run ability. Went from a versatile athlete to a bell cow back in his junior season. Has the largest frame of top running backs in the 2023 cycle, checking in at over 6-foot-1 and around 205 pounds prior to his senior season. Gets downhill quickly. Shows the ability to make cuts at full speed in tight quarters. Efficient in his cuts with little wasted movement. Has the stride and on-field play speed to pull away once in the open field. Received a heavy workload as a junior. Capable of running with power and has shown signs of a dangerous stiff arm. Productive in Florida’s top classification as a junior, rushing for 1,651 yards and 22 touchdowns. Draws on his background as a wide receiver as a pass catcher out of the backfield. A natural pass catcher with quickness in his routes. Among the better pass-catching running backs in the 2023 cycle.