Top-70 EDGE Zion Grady greeted by Mike Norvell on FSU visit

Troy (Ala.) Enterprise four-star EDGE Zion Grady is taking a visit to Florida State today. He was greeted by Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell when he arrived on campus.

Grady is one of the most sought-after prospects in the 2025 class along the defensive line. A one-time Alabama commit, Grady decommitted from the in-state Tide following Nick Saban’s retirement.

He is the nation’s No. 63 overall prospect, No. 8 EDGE and No. 5 recruit from Alabama in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Major DE target @GradyZion arrives for #FSU visit and practice today. Greeted by Norvell. pic.twitter.com/I8ovbRgIqZ

— Warchant.com (@Warchant) April 12, 2024

5 OVs scheduled for Zion Grady

Going forward, Grady has lined up five official visits: Miami (May 31), Florida State (June 7), Auburn (June 10), Tennessee (June 14) and Georgia (June 21). He broke down that group of schools in February with On3’s Chad Simmons.

Auburn: “Auburn has really been coming hard after me. Coach Hugh Freeze and Coach Josh Aldridge are really recruiting me hard and showing a lot interest. That is important. Then I really like the environment at Auburn. It’s one of the craziest I’ve ever been to. They have great fans.” 

Florida State: “I was back at Florida State in January and I have been there a lot. Coach Mike Norvell and Coach John Papuchis recruit me hard and I have good relationships with them. I really like what Coach Norvell is doing with the program. He has turned it around.”

Georgia: “I like my connection with Coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe and the honesty of head coach Kirby Smart. I have been there a lot and it is a great atmosphere too. There is great energy at Georgia and the people are just good there. Then they develop players at my position, so that is something I like too.”

Miami: “I visited Miami late in January and I like the vision Coach Mario Cristobal has for the program. They want to get back to the old Miami days. My relationship with Coach Jason Taylor is another factor. I can learn from one of the best every day.”

Tennessee: “I want to get back to Tennessee. Coach Chop (Levorn Harbin) and I have been talking to him since ninth grade. There is great energy at Tennessee and I just to talk with the coaches more.”

Miami making a strong push

Florida State’s ACC in-state rival, Miami, appears to be making the strongest push for Grady. On3’s Steve Wiltfong has logged an expert prediction favoring the Hurricanes. Grady visited Coral Gables last weekend.

“Coming off that visit, Grady is saying all the right things about Miami,” Miami insider Izubee Charles said earlier this week. “Obviously, a former Bama commit, Miami has been making a very, very strong push since he backed off that pledge earlier this year. They’ve gotten him down to campus twice in the last three months, which is always a good sign. He loved this recent visit down to Miami. He said he got a really in-depth look at it. Last time he visited was during their junior day, so a lot of chaotic things going on. This time he got up close and personal with that Hurricanes staff.

“The guy that’s leading that recruitment is none other than Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor, and what better guy to recruit you than a guy who has been at the highest level and is regarded as one of the best at his position to ever play in the NFL. So, Taylor is all over that, the Hurricanes are all over Grady and I think they’re in a very, very good spot to add that Alabama four-star defensive end after this visit.”