Seminoles bringing in multiple Preferred Walk-Ons that turned down scholarships to sign with FSU

Florida State is bringing in a couple of Preferred Walk-Ons that could wind up being diamonds in the rough.

As usual in this day and age of the sport, the traditional National Signing Day to open February was a quiet period for Florida State. The Seminoles signed one scholarship player in three-star linebacker Dylan Brown-Turner, who had recently decommitted from North Texas following an Official Visit to Tallahassee last weekend. Outside of that, the program did the majority of its work on the recruiting in December.

Florida State signed a mix of 26 prospects from the high school ranks, junior college level, and NCAA Transfer Portal during the Early Signing Period. In total, the class ranks No. 16 in the country according to 247Sports and fills a variety of needs in the present while establishing promising youth for the future. 

For instance, cornerback Fentrell Cypress II, offensive lineman Jeremiah Byers, tight end Jaheim Bell, and defensive lineman Braden Fiske will probably play big roles for the Seminoles in 2023. On the other hand, wide receiver Hykeem Williams, quarterback Brock Glenn, offensive tackle Lucas Simmons, defensive end Lamont Green Jr., and defensive back KJ Kirkand are exactly the type of players that Mike Norvell needs to build up for the coming years.

The coaching staff has also done well at bringing in talent without having to give up scholarships. Florida State received Preferred Walk-on commitments from at least seven players on National Signing Day. In recent history, former star running back Treshaun Ward joined the program as a PWO. Many of these incoming players turned down other offers to sign with the Seminoles.

— Michael Grant, Quarterback, Maclay School

Grant is a local product out of Maclay School who is actually a legacy to Florida State. His grandfather, Don, started for the Seminoles back in 1947. Grant has developed into one of the best quarterbacks in the area over the past couple of years due to his arm strength and precision.

As a senior, he completed 215/334 (64.4%) of his passes for 2,960 yards with 32 touchdowns to ten interceptions. He added another score on the ground. Grant is a quality addition to the quarterback room, which is quickly bulking up in numbers (Grant, Jordan Travis, Tate Rodemaker, AJ Duffy, Brock Glenn, Dylan McNamara).

— Donny Hiebert, Defensive Back, Buchholz High School

Hiebert turned down multiple smaller offers to join Florida State. He reported scholarships from Columbia, Stetson, and the University of Findlay (D2). A long defensive back at 6-foot-2, Hiebert displays solid awareness and change of direction on film. Even more impressive, his ability to lay out opposing offensive players.

An all state selection at safety, Hiebert recorded 103 tackles, 9 nine tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions a senior. During his prep career, he came down with 13 interceptions and 149 solo tackles.

— Brandon Torres, Linebacker, Barron Collier High School

Another in-state prospect that picked Florida State over reported offers from schools such as Western Kentucky, Presbyterian College, Alabama A&M, Davidson, and Brown, Torres is fun to watch on film. He's a punishing hitter and not many players fall forward when Torres is making contact with them. 

Despite playing on both sides of the ball in high school, Torres will focus on linebacker at Florida State. He recorded 104 total tackles as a senior. Torres totaled nine sacks and seven tackles for loss as a junior.

— Xavier Perkins, Defensive End, Berkeley Prep High School

A potential diamond in the rough, Perkins is signing with the Seminoles after receiving numerous interest from FBS and FCS programs. He was offered by Kansas State in June and took an Official Visit to Manhattan during the season. Perkins also reported offers from USF, Middle Tennessee State, Temple, Mercer, Richmond, Furman, James Madison, Holy Cross, Lehigh, Princeton, Harvard, Fordham, Dartmouth, and Yale.

Perkins' burst and speed off the edge pops out when watching his highlight tape. He has solid hands at the point of attack and knows how to shed blockers to make plays on ballcarriers. Perkins has a solid frame to work with at 6-foot-4, 225-pounds but will need to add some weight. He was listed as recording 25 tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception in three games as a senior.

— Grant Fielder, Defensive End, Campbell High School

Continuing the trend, Fielder chose Florida State over scholarship offers from Memphis, Alabama State, Stetson, Chattanooga, and East Tennessee State. He actually has strong athletic bloodlines as his father, Cecil (1985-98), and brother, Prince (2005-16), both played in the MLB for over a decade.

Fielder recorded 38 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and four sacks as a junior according to MaxPreps. He isn't the fastest player off the snap but he plays with effort and has a high-motor. FSU may be able to use a player like Fielder, who stands at 6-foot-2, 245-pounds.

— Ashton Bracewell, Linebacker, Flagler Palm Coast High School

With an intriguing frame (6-foot-4, 220-pounds) and a decent offer sheet (Akron, Navy, Florida Atlantic, Toledo, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Illinois), Bracewell is the perfect mold of Preferred Walk-On prospect that Florida State is searching for. He's from the state and has proven himself at the prep level.

Bracewood recorded 110 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, an interception, and two pass deflections in 2022. He's got good instincts and knows how to read plays before the ball is snapped. Bracewell lined up at all three levels of the defense in high school but he's expected to settle in at linebacker at Florida State.

— Zamari McKenley, Wide Receiver, Stranahan High School

McKenley is joining Florida State after playing his high school at south Florida program, Stranahan High School. The Seminoles have signed two players from the school over the past two years - wide receiver Hykeem Williams and linebacker Omar Graham Jr. McKenley is a friend of Williams and joined him during multiple visits to Florida State in the fall.

According to his social media, McKenley was offered by Edward Waters and MTI Prep. He caught five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in 2022.

— Ethan Shawn, Wide Receiver, St. Thomas Aquinas High School

Shawn hails out of south Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas and is a former teammate of current Florida State offensive tackle Julian Armella at the High School level. He runs a reported 4.8 yard dash and knows how to hit angles and stretch defences once the ball is in his hands. His size might be a detractor as he stands at 5-foot-10, 165-pounds.

He's bringing a winning culture to Tallahassee as St. Thomas Aquinas was named State Champions during all four years of his prep career. Shawn caught 10 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns as a senior.

READ MORE: Florida State's full 2023 football schedule released

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