Florida State Secures 13th 2026 Commit with Top Defensive Lineman

Florida State University (FSU) is showing strong momentum in its recruiting efforts for the 2026 and 2027 football classes, having secured multiple commitments including four-star defensive lineman Earnest Rankins and three-star tight end Connor Winn. Rankins, a top defensive lineman prospect from Georgia, is FSU's highest-ranked 2026 recruit to date, while Winn is the third commitment in the 2027 class, returning to play after a foot injury and contributing to FSU's rebuilding efforts following a 2-10 season. Despite these successes, FSU faced a setback when four-star linebacker TJ White, a significant target for the 2026 class, committed to Tennessee, turning down offers from FSU and other programs. White was a highly regarded prospect with a strong junior season and had visited FSU multiple times, but Tennessee held the momentum in his recruitment. FSU continues to pursue other linebacker targets like Rodney Colton Jr. and DQ Forkpa Jr. as the program moves toward a top-10 national recruiting class. Overall, the Seminoles' recruiting strategy under coach Mike Norvell is yielding positive results, particularly on defense and at tight end, signaling a turnaround from last season's disappointing performance.