Florida State coaches have made significant strides in their recruiting efforts in South Florida.
But the struggles of Mike Norvell's early years on the recruiting trail will be evident across the field on Saturday when the No. 3 Hurricanes visit Tallahassee. Miami features a number of players that FSU’s staff pursued through the years.
Among the most notable is Rueben Bain, who has 22 tackles, two sacks, an interception and is the top-rated defensive end (95.8) by Pro Football Focus in 2025. Bain (pictured above) was a consensus four-star prospect, one of the top 15 players in Florida in the class of 2023, and has delivered for the Hurricanes.
"He's been a dominant player," Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said. "What he did this offseason, how he took care of his body, the way he works, the way he gets the extra reps in practice, how he's gone about his fundamentals and techniques, how he attacks every single day, that's what shows up on the field."
The Hurricanes were also able to sign linebacker Wesley Bissainthe (14 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, one forced fumble) and freshman receiver Malachi Toney (22 catches, 268 yards, one touchdown). Cornerback Xavier Lucas (11 tackles) arrived this offseason in Coral Gables after transferring from Wisconsin.
All three grew up playing high school football in talent-rich Dade or Broward counties. Bain, Bissainthe or Lucas could have been difference-makers for FSU on defense and the same could be said for Toney on offense. But instead the Seminoles will have to match up against them on Saturday (7:30 p.m. on ABC).
FSU's depth chart includes a few significant recruiting wins in South Florida. Among those are defensive end / tight end Amaree Williams, who reclassified to graduate early and join FSU in the summer of 2024. Williams has made an impact on both sides of the ball, including when he recorded a sack and a receiving touchdown earlier this season against East Texas A&M.
With Randy Pittman returning from a knee injury, FSU has more depth at tight end and can now shift more of Williams' attention to defense.
"He'll have more opportunity to work on the defensive side and in special teams while still helping offensively," Norvell said.
Miami native Lawayne McCoy
Williams is among 10 Seminoles from South Florida on this week's depth chart. The group includes wide receiver Lawayne McCoy (Miami Central), safety Edwin Joseph (Chaminade), defensive tackle Daniel Lyons (Homestead Senior) as well as defensive linemen Mandrell Desir and Darryll Desir (both played at Miami Norland).
The group also includes Boca Raton native Gunnar Hansen (Vanderbilt) and Fort Lauderdale native Earl Little Jr. (Alabama), who began their college careers in the SEC but are back in the Sunshine State. Little Jr. got his first taste of the FSU-Miami rivalry in 2024, but it's part of his life: His dad played at Miami.
"I'm from down there and I kind of know everybody down there," Little Jr. said. "I brought my talents up here. The whole down south is against me. It is a big game for me and this program as well. It means everything to play in this game and I'm truly blessed to be a part of something like this."
There are other Seminoles not on the depth chart, of course, a group that includes linebacker Omar Graham Jr.
FSU long built its rosters with a pipeline that flowed from Dade, Broward and Palm Beach to Tallahassee. The pipeline was reduced to a slow, steady stream in recent years. But FSU coaches have had success in South Florida in the 2025 class, landing defensive backs Zae Thomas, Max Redmon and the Desir twins. Some of FSU’s new assistants, notably Tim Harris Jr. and Evan Cooper, who have deep routs in South Florida.
Among the 2024 signees, the Seminoles landed a few players from South Florida: cornerbacks Jamari Howard and Ricky Knight, linebacker Jayden Parrish, defensive lineman Jamorie Flagg, kicker Jake Weinberg, McCoy and Williams.
Three of the top signees from the 2023 class came from South Florida but have transferred — receiver Hykeem Williams moved on to Colorado, while safety Conrad Hussey is at Oregon State and defensive lineman Lamont Green Jr. is at FIU. Joseph is the last of the South Florida natives from his recruiting class on FSU's campus.
Looking ahead to the 2026 class, FSU has a commitment from Plantation American Heritage receiver Brandon Bennett, Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna receiver Jasen Lopez, Miami Northwestern safety Tedarius Hughes, Hialeah Barbara Goleman safety Darryl Bell III, Miami Central linebacker Karon Maycock and Coral Gables defensive lineman Luke Francis.
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