4-star EDGE DD Holmes commits to Florida State: 'They just reassured me why I loved it'

Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga four-star EDGE DD Holmes wasn’t going to make any major decisions right after he took his final official visit in June. After experiencing the highs following each official visits, Holmes wanted a clear mind when he decided to make his final decision.

After thinking on it, Holmes finally came to the decision to commit to Florida State choosing the Seminoles over Maryland.

“A year ago I probably would not have thought that I’d be in this position with Florida State,” Holmes told On3. “I’m glad that I’m in this position with them and happy that it’s turned out this way.”

After taking some unofficial visits during the spring, Holmes revisited each of those schools in June to get a better picture of each. Florida State was the last he visited on June 23.

Holmes already had a positive impression of Mike Norvell’s and his team thanks to the official he took in early April. Things only improved one he arrived back in Tallahassee.

Between building on the relationship he already had with the coaching staff, the players and the love he received with the community, the Seminoles only helped separate themselves from any other school recruiting him.

“My official visit was big,” said Holmes, the No. 135 player in the 2024 On300. “I felt like they could do nothing but help themselves and that’s exactly what they did. They just reassured me why I loved it when I went on my unofficial.”

Relationship with coaches sold Holmes on Florida State

Arguably the biggest factor in Holmes’ decision to commit to Florida State is his relationship with Norvell.

Holmes said that Norvell’s hands-on approach in the way that he coaches was something that really caught his eye. It was also the type of environment that that he felt like he could strive because of that hands-on coaching.

On top of the hands-on coaching, Norvell played an active role in recruiting Holmes which separated him from any other coach that recruited him.

“He was very active in my recruitment,” Holmes said. “I love that he was hands-on but not too pushy. He gave me my space when I needed it, came in when I needed it and that respect went a long way.

… His hands-on approach was very consistent through recruiting me over phone into my unofficial and into my official. He was hands-on all around.”

Florida State special teams coordinator and defensive end coach John Papuchis also remained a constant in Holmes’ recruitment by not only remaining active with him but with his family.

“He’s been very hands-on like Coach Norvell with me, my mom and my sister,” said Holmes. “He put his all into us as a family and I felt like that really grew our relationship.”