Florida State is in urgent need of a spark for its 2025 recruiting class, especially after arch-rival Florida Gators nabbed four-star QB Tramell Jones Jr. and three-star offensive lineman Daniel Pierre Louis.
But here’s the twist: Losing Jones Jr. might not sting as much as it seems. With Jones battling injuries throughout his senior year and considering other options, it’s possible FSU was more focused on securing his high school teammate, five-star wide receiver Jaime Ffrench Jr. instead.
As for Pierre Louis, even though his departure seemed inevitable after the firing of offensive line coach Alex Atkins, FSU’s push for his commitment wasn’t entirely wasted. It was seen as a strategic move to bring in his five-star linebacker teammate, Ty Jackson. But despite these efforts, the reality remains: FSU’s recruiting performance this year has been underwhelming, and the pressure is on to deliver big in 2025.
The pain of losing a coveted quarterback to the Gators is hard to ignore, especially with FSU’s quarterback play in 2024 faltering. DJ Uiagalelei, Brock Glenn, and Luke Kromenhoek have struggled, leaving fans and coaches eager for a quarterback who can elevate the program back to its former glory. The Seminoles’ QB room is thin, with only Glenn, Kromenhoek, and Trever Jackson on the roster for the future.
Enter Carter Smith, a four-star quarterback from Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, Florida—arguably the most critical recruit for FSU’s 2025 class. Smith has all the tools to be the face of the Seminoles’ offense, and he’s officially visiting FSU during their highly anticipated game against Florida. The buzz around Smith is real: On3’s Steve Wiltfong has already predicted him to commit to FSU, which would be a game-changing move for Mike Norvell and his staff.
Securing Carter Smith would be a major victory for FSU, giving them a dynamic leader at quarterback to build around for the future. But Norvell might not stop there—after the disappointing DJ Uiagalelei experiment, could FSU explore adding a transfer portal QB to shore up its depth? With so much riding on the 2025 class, the Seminoles can’t afford to miss out on a talent like Carter Smith.
