BREAKING: Seminoles Land Competitive, Gritty Four-Star DB Ricky Knight III Over Miami
Florida State isn't tip-toeing into the month of July. In fact, the Seminoles are making a statement on the recruiting trail with multiple prospects set to announce their decisions over the next couple of weeks.
After landing a pledge from four-star defensive end DD Holmes earlier Saturday, the Seminoles pulled off a daily double to kick off July.
According to his live commitment announcement, four-star cornerback Ricky Knight III has picked Florida State over Miami and Illinois. The Hurricanes got the last visit in June but it wasn't enough to hold off the Seminoles, who were the first program to offer Knight III a scholarship.
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This is a big pledge for the program in more ways than one. Not only is Knight III a gritty and competitive prospect who will fit right into Florida State's culture, but he's also the first defensive back commitment for new position coach Patrick Surtain Sr.
The Florida native was impressed by how close the players on the team are with one another during his official visit. That was something that caught his eye throughout the weekend.
"They definitely share a great bond. All the guys are loving with each other. You can definitely see their brotherhood," Knight III said to NoleGameday previously. "I also asked that in the player panel and some of them feel like their brotherhood has gotten a lot tighter from last year to this year and the coaches as well. They all trust and believe in each other and that's what makes this school great."
Now that Knight III is officially in the boat, he'll be putting on his recruiting hat for the Seminoles. One of his first targets is his cousin, three-star defensive back Kevin Levy, who took an official visit the same weekend that Knight III did in June. The two will play their senior seasons together at Cardinal Newman High School.
“Just him being my first cousin, we do a lot," Knight III said. "We’ve come up together. To be able to go through this process with him, it’s fun.”
Knight III has the skill set to play as a boundary cornerback or nickel at the college level. He fits the mold of what the Seminoles are looking for on and off the field. Knight III has impressive instincts and is able to read plays before the ball is snapped. Even more promising is his ability to come up as a physical and sound tackler at the line of scrimmage.
With his pledge, Florida State's class moves from No. 18 to No. 16 in the country with 13 verbal commitments.
The 6-foot, 168-pound cornerback is regarded as the No. 402 overall prospect, the No. 30 ATH, and the No. 57 recruit in the state of Florida in the 2024 class according to 247Sports.
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