FSU 5-star commits KJ Bolden, Charles Lester III take in Seminoles' win over LSU
Florida State opened its season with an emphatic statement on Sunday night, as the Seminoles scored 31 points in the second half to smother LSU en route to a convincing 45-21 victory at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
It’s the second season in a row that Mike Norvell and the Noles begin a campaign with a win over Brian Kelly’s Tigers. There was a laundry list of high-profile prospects in attendance for the Power 5 showdown, including the two highest-ranked recruits in FSU’s 2024 class.
Both Buford (Ga.) Five-Star Plus+ safety KJ Bolden and Venice (Fla.) five-star cornerback Charles Lester III took in the humongous victory while sporting garnet and gold. The pair took photos with the FSU faithful as Lester posted pictures with the caption “it’s a new era.”
Bolden is the No. 9 prospect and top-ranked safety in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Lester isn’t far behind, checking in as the No. 20 recruit and No. 2 CB in the country.
Also in attendance for the game was Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Ohio State Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver commit Jeremiah Smith, the No. 1 prospect in the nation. The uncommitted Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland four-star duo of defensive lineman LJ McCray and safety Zay Mincey were among the others that also witnessed FSU’s victory.
Norvell crucial in Bolden, Lester’s decisions
“I committed to Florida State for multiple reasons,” Bolden told On3. “Florida State has been my dream school since I was growing up. Since I was a kid, I always wanted to go there. I also really like what Coach Mike Norvell is doing with the program.
…He has changed the program around a lot. Right after Coach Willie Taggart left, Coach Norvell told me he would turn things around. Now Florida State is one of the top teams in the country and he has done exactly what he told me he would do years ago.”
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Norvell continued to turn things around on Sunday night, backing up his recruiting pitch to Bolden in the process. The improved play on the gridiron, combined with the elite family feel in Tallahassee has landed FSU multiple big fish on the recruiting trail.
“When I’m there, it’s the same him every time,” Lester told On3. “You won’t get the laid back him or anything like that because he’s hyped every time. I can’t speak for no other recruit but every time I was at Florida State, Coach Norvell made me feel like I was the only person he wanted out of this class.”
Florida State owns top-five recruiting class
Bolden and Lester highlight FSU’s recruiting class, which ranks No. 5 in the nation and No. 1 in the ACC, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking.
Joining the pair as top-100 prospects pledged to the Noles are Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County five-star tight end Landen Thomas, Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine Military four-star quarterback Luke Kromenhoek and Albany (Ga.) Dougherty four-star running back Kam Davis. Both Kromenhoek and Davis were also in attendance for Florida State’s win on Sunday.
FSU’s class has 21 total commits, 12 of whom are blue-chip prospects. Of those 12 recruits, nine hail from Florida or Georgia. Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest offensive tackle Jonathan Daniels, Tallahassee (Fla.) Florida State University School athlete Micahi Danzy and Miami Central WR Lawayne McCoy highlight the other top in-state commits for Norvell and his staff.