Florida 4-star CB commit Wardell Mack visiting Florida State this weekend

Florida and Florida State will have to wait a few weeks to do battle on the field, but the teams sitting at No. 3 and No. 4 in the On3 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings continue to duke it out on the trail.

Each team has won some head-to-head battles this cycle on top prospects in Florida, but they’re now going at it over Marrero (La.) John Ehret four-star cornerback and Gators commit Wardell Mack.

The 6-foot, 170-pounder committed to the Gators in August over FSU, Texas and LSU. But the Seminoles haven’t relented in their pursuit, and with Florida’s struggles on the field this season, FSU is looking to take advantage.

This weekend, Mack will take his first visit to Tallahassee since committing to the Gators, and On3 national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman says this recruitment is one to keep an eye on.

“LSU and Texas have been among the schools that extended invites for game day visits to Wardell Mack, but the Florida commit has had a visit set to Doak Campbell Stadium for several months,” Spiegelman said on Friday. “They have a playoff game on Thursday, so this works out for them, and FSU has a lot of connections to New Orleans on their staff and roster, namely new DBs coach Patrick Surtain. Despite being pretty firm to his Florida commitment, Mack has talked quite a bit about how hard FSU is recruiting him. This might be their final opportunity to make a big move before he signs next month.”

Mike Norvell helping to lead the charge for the Seminoles

The Seminoles have a flood of New Orleans-based coaches and players on the roster, including area recruiter David Johnson and DBs coach Pat Surtain.

Added Spiegelman earlier this week: “Throughout the fall, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell has gotten more and more involved in Florida State’s push for the Florida-committed DB from The Boot. If there’s a team to watch late, it’s the Noles.”

Florida State already has commitments from five-star cornerback Charles Lester III and three-star Ricky Knight, but would like to add to that with both Mack and LSU commit Cai Bates. According to On3’s Chad Simmons, Bates has taken a handful of visits to schools other than LSU already this fall. And the Orlando native is taking a long look at the ‘Noles.

“Cai Bates is a very interesting name to watch, and he’s somebody I have my eye on a little closer heading into this weekend,” Simmons said on Friday. “He’s been to numerous schools, some that have been reported and some that haven’t this fall for games. Texas A&M, Tennessee, Florida State and LSU — the school he’s committed to — are the ones he is hearing from the most. He is one that will be somebody to keep an eye on each week as we get closer to the Early Signing Period.”