'I've always been a Seminole' ... 5-star CB Charles Lester commits to Florida State!

SARASOTA — This one has been a long time coming for Florida State fans.

Five-star defensive back Charles Lester, who has been considered a strong lean to the Seminoles for months, committed to FSU in front of friends, family and media on Friday night in his hometown.

“Ever since I stepped on that campus, I always knew I would end up there,” Lester said of his decision. “After the OV (official visit), right before I left, I committed. So I’ve been a silent commit for a while now. … It’s just a dream come true.

“FSU has always been my childhood dream. So just to be able to keep that tradition going, I’ve always been a Seminole.”

The moment 5-star CB Charles Lester III silently committed to Florida State in June👀

Read: https://t.co/uTkSokMpIk pic.twitter.com/KNZzoDc5F7

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) July 29, 2023

Lester has said repeatedly that Florida State was his dream school since he was a child, but the Seminoles had to fight off a strong push from Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes to land the coveted recruit.

“I was always set on FSU. I didn’t let the [Colorado] comments bother me,” he said. “If anything, I enjoyed the comments. It’s just extra attention. But that’s what it’s all about so, at the end of the day, it’s a guessing game.”

Lester took more visits to Florida State than any other school, so it wasn’t that surprising that he chose to stick with his closest relationships in the end. He also loves the direction of the Seminoles’ program under head coach Mike Norvell.

Lester shared those views when he took two key visits to FSU in the spring and later in the summer.

“Good, really good. I had a great time,” Lester said at the time. “I had time to talk with the coaching staff and meet some of the new players. I enjoyed the time, and it’s the place I’m most comfortable.”

Lester also explained on Friday that Norvell was a big reason why he chose to commit to Florida State. That was the one big constant when the Seminoles saw former DBs coach Marcus Woodson leave the staff and Patrick Surtain arrive earlier this year.

“He always reminded me that it was my heart and the way I think …,” Lester said. “He said if he doesn’t coach anyone else, he wants to coach me, just because of where I’ve been and how prideful I am. So that’s the connection between us two. And just hanging around with him, I see how prideful he is, energetic. I mean, that guy’s special.

“So at the end of the day, that’s what really brought me close to him more than any other coach, position coach, even when Coach Woodson was there. With him leaving, it never changed.”

Lester said he has loved everything about FSU throughout the whole process, and Surtain fit in perfectly.

“I mean, it ‘s one of a kind,” the five-star prospect said earlier this summer. “From the first time, I’ve felt that the love, the open arms they have had for me. But being able to come here over 10 times, it feels that vibe is stronger. Pat is another guy that is a new guy on the staff, and we have a great feeling about each other.”

What kept him locked into the Seminoles even more was how the other recruits in Florida State’s 2024 class support each other. Quarterback commit Luke Kromenhoek was in attendance for Friday’s announcement, and Lester plans to be on FSU’s campus for Saturday’s Seminole Showcase to help recruit other players.

“That just shows the support my teammates have for me. That was actually huge for me to know that he would come down and celebrate it with me,” Lester said. “That actually locked me in even more.”

Lester also said that Florida State’s coaches have told him he might be able to play some wide receiver in college as well as cornerback.

According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Lester is the No. 2 cornerback in the country and the No. 4 prospect in Florida.

Stay tuned to Warchant.com for much more coverage on the Lester commitment to FSU.

Here’s a closer look at Charles Lester in action