Despite one of its best seasons on the field in more than a decade last year, Florida State has had a slow go of it on the recruiting trail since then.
Coming into Tuesday, Mike Norvell and Co. had just five 2025 commitments — though one was five-star offensive lineman Solomon Thomas. But the ‘Noles desperately needed something to kickstart their momentum, and they just might have gotten it.
In front of a large contingent of Georgia media, four-star Milton (Ga.) wide receiver CJ Wiley chose the Seminoles over both Georgia and LSU. The Bulldogs were presumed to be the favorite to land Wiley as the local school, but Florida State had him on campus last weekend for an official visit.
And that was enough to sway him to Tallahassee.
“I think the biggest thing is the familiarity with some of the staff members,” Wiley’s father Chuck said of what stands out about the Seminoles to On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “They offered CJ in the ninth grade. They’ve been around for a minute. Coach Norvell has been to the school several times. Coach (Alex) Atkins has been to the school a couple times. It’s been a big recruiting effort. Coach (Ron) Dugans has definitely been down there too.”
His commitment was the second in two days for FSU, and it catapulted them from No. 25 to No. 15 nationally in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.
Wiley is the latest blue-chip addition for the ‘Noles
Wiley is the second Peach State native to make the call for FSU in as many days, as Greensboro (Ga.) Greene County four-star defensive lineman Kevin Wynn, a top-150 recruit, pledged on Monday.
The Noles’ class now features six total commitments: Thomas, Wiley, Wynn, high four-star EDGE Javion Hilson, four-star quarterback Tramell Jones and four-star linebacker Ethan Pritchard.
FSU also currently holds the highest average rating per commit of any program in the country at 92.69, just ahead of LSU (92.65) and Ohio State (92.65).
And they’re at the top of the list for a few other top targets, according to On3’s Steve Wiltfong, who wrote this earlier Tuesday:
Jesup (Ga.) Wayne County On300 linebacker Tavion Wallace is another Florida State leads for on the On3 RPM. Sources that spent time with him continue to feel good about it but know it’s a battle with Florida and Georgia.
FSU is considered the favorite over Clemson for Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage four-star Gregory Thomas.
“The return to Tallahassee was great,” Thomas said. “It was great to spend time around coaches and family and continue to build relationships. I was excited to just see Tallahassee in a different way then before.”
Florida State is at the top or near the top for Thomas’s teammate four-star running back Byron Louis.
“The visit went great!” Louis said. “What excites me about the program is the people. Coach Norvell and his coaching staff are awesome!”
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