3-star DE Nicolas Clayton shakes up visit plans, sets commitment date after FSU official
Florida State offered a scholarship to three-star defensive end Nicolas Clayton just over a month ago, and he was on campus for an official visit this week.
The Gainesville pass-rusher said the Seminoles wasted no time grabbing his attention.
“I would say how much they came and talked to me and how much they really showed that they wanted me,” Clayton said. “They definitely showed a lot of energy toward me, so I wanted to at least give them a chance. They’re a team in Florida and I live here — only two hours down the road. So I wanted to give them a chance.”
During his 48 hours on campus, Clayton not only set a decision date for this coming Saturday, but he also canceled his last official visit to Illinois.
When asked where Florida State stands in his recruitment, Clayton said he wasn’t sure just yet but added that he was going to talk it over with his family over the next few days.
As for the visit itself, Clayton said the energy of head coach Mike Norvell really stood out.
“I would like to say definitely Coach Norvell’s energy. I’ve never had a coach with that much energy all the time,” he said. “I’ve asked players, I’ve asked coaches if he’s like that every single day, and he is.”
Another thing that really stood out to Clayton was the schemes Florida State defensive ends coach John Papuchis and coordinator Adam Fuller run.
“I kinda just asked about the different kinds of packages they have in their defense and stuff like that, to see how I would fit,” Clayton said. “I’d fit really well because that’s how my defense is at Buchholz High School. I definitely think I’d fit in here. We do different stunts and we move around our defensive line a lot. We do different things like that, and they do it here also, just to mess with the offense’s head, and I really like how they do that.”
Clayton also loved the way Florida State’s coaches showed him how badly they want him in their recruiting class.
“So Monday I was coming in here thinking that I wouldn’t be the main priority, but they definitely showed that I was a priority to them …,” he said. “It definitely showed that I will be a priority. At the end of this, I definitely think that this is a good place, a nice place to be.”
Clayton will now head home to Gainesville and discuss his decision with his family before announcing a decision on June 22. Clayton’s mother is an alum of the University of Florida, however he told the media that the other side of his family loves the ‘Noles.
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