A breakdown of Florida State’s recruiting board exiting the ESP

Florida State has five commitments that have opted not to sign during the Early Signing Period. The Seminoles will have to fend off others between now and National Signing Day on February 6th:

Palm Beach (Fla.) Central five-star cornerback Akeem Dent

Notes: Dent is the lone official visitor from last weekend at Florida State who appears unlikely to sign during the Early Signing Period. Dent is committed to FSU and has been for nearly 18 months. Schools such as Alabama and Clemson may make a push for him in January. It is unknown if he will take official visits elsewhere. He is FSU’s top commitment in their class. Per someone close to Dent, he wanted to wait until February to sign along with classmates and friends.

Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic four-star safety Nick Cross

Notes: Cross officially visited FSU over the summer and committed at the start of the college football season. He has remained firm in that pledge despite a push from Georgia, who he unofficially visited, and Maryland, who hired his former high school head coach on the new staff of Mike Locksley. According to a source, the plan was always for Cross to wait until February to sign.

Lakeland (Fla.) Kathleen four-star safety Brendan Gant

Notes: Gant is a solid FSU pledge who was unable to officially visit the Seminoles before the Early Signing Period, which has led him to wait until February.

Madison (Fla.) Madison County four-star cornerback Travis Jay

Notes: Jay is a solid FSU pledge who was unable to officially visit the Seminoles before the Early Signing Period, as he was busy winning a state championship and then had basketball this past weekend. Others are after Jay, including Alabama, Florida and Tennessee, but a source close to the Seminole pledge fully expects him to sign with FSU in the end.

Lehigh Acres (Fla.) Lehigh four-star strong-side defensive end Quashon Fuller

Notes: Fuller never intended to sign early. He wants to take multiple official visits in January. Fuller, who was at FSU for an unofficial visit last weekend, has already taken an official visit to Auburn. Alabama, Florida and FSU are in the plans for January.