Florida State hosting key flip targets this weekend

Mike Norvell‘s Florida State squad controls its own destiny en route to the College Football Playoff, and they’ll have a chance to take another step closer on Saturday when rival Miami comes to Tallahassee. But the on-field result won’t be the only important thing happening, as the ‘Noles are expected to have upwards of 60 recruits in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 classes on inside Doak Campbell Stadium.

Among them will be four major FSU flip targets, including a pair of five-star wide receivers.

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On Wednesday, On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons broke down the latest news and intel on a couple of expected visitors with The Inside Scoop’s Josh Newberg:

Five-Star Plus+ WR Jeremiah Smith – Ohio State commit

Simmons’ Take: “With Jeremiah Smith, a longtime Ohio State commit, we know about that connection with Brian Hartline, and he likes the offense there and what they’re doing with Ryan Day obviously as contenders for the national championship. But he keeps going places, whether it’s Florida, whether it’s Miami, whether it’s Florida State. Those in-state programs aren’t giving up. For me, the one to watch the closest is Florida State. He still has plans to take an official visit there next month, and they’ve always been I feel Ohio State’s biggest threat. At least consistently. There’s been different schools up and down, but FSU has stayed there, and I think a big part of that is Mike Norvell. This is a big weekend.”

5-star WR Cam Coleman – Auburn commit

Simmons’ Take: “I haven’t heard as much recently about Florida State with Cam Coleman; he’s very quiet, very reserved. But I do hear a lot about Auburn, and at one time we thought it was Auburn vs. Florida State back when he committed to Texas A&M on July 4. But I do think there’s some interest there, and there’s obviously communication there. Norvell is involved, Ron Dugans is involved, and what they’ve done on the field last year and carried that into this season has his attention.”

4-star CB Wardell Mack – Florida commit

Simmons’ Take: “I hear a lot more about Texas now, even more than LSU with Wardell Mack. And I definitely think he’s still keeping his options open as well somewhat. Florida is struggling somewhat this year, coming off a loss to Arkansas at home and losing to Georgia a couple weeks ago. But Mack has that connection with [defensive backs coach] Corey Raymond going back to his time at LSU. He is a Louisiana kid, but it seems like if he does flip, it’s going to be a school outside the state of Louisiana as of right now. And FSU has been a strong contender from the beginning. When he committed to Florida, some thought FSU was trending there as well back in August. He has stayed in touch with Norvell, Patrick Surtain and David Johnson. They’ve all been involved. And I think the struggles on the field at Florida has opened the door for other schools like Florida State to take advantage of that.”

4-star CB Cai Bates – LSU commit

Simmons’ Take: “Florida State was a top-five contender for Cai Bates as an in-state program with him being in Orlando. He’s been to FSU numerous times and knows that staff extremely well. He committed to LSU over schools like Florida State and Tennessee. He’s been to Texas A&M already this year. He’s very quiet, under-the-radar, and doesn’t say much about where he’s going or if he’s going somewhere. But he is taking trips and talking to a few programs, and one of those is Florida State. I think they have a great chance to make an impression on him and his family this weekend. I think he’s keeping one leg out the door, not locking things up with LSU and giving schools like Florida State a great opportunity.”