Defensive standouts JaDon Blair, Jared Smith rave about FSU official visits
Defense was the theme of Florida State’s mid-week official visits, including multiple top-100 players in the 2025 class.
One of those elite recruits was four-star safety JaDon Blair, who made his way to Tallahassee for only the second time. His first was for the Florida State-Miami game at Doak Campbell Stadium last fall.
“The official visit was great. Just getting to talk to the people, getting to talk to the guys, and just feeling that environment of a brotherhood,” Blair said. “It was a great overall experience. Coach [Mike] Norvell was not like any other head coach; he’s a different type of head coach. He’s gonna love you hard, he’s gonna be on you, but he’s gonna expect the best from you in everything you do. That’s something I really respect from that man.”
One of the biggest aspects Blair was looking for in the visit was the feeling of being at “home.” And after his 48 hours in Tallahassee, the North Carolina product said Florida State was close to that.
“Today I just wanted to get that feeling of a home environment type of vibe, and it’s kinda close there, but I just want to think it over with my parents,” said Blair, who On3 rates as the No. 8 safety in the country. “I just came back to get the feel of the players as well, to get the feel of all the coaches. During game time, they were getting prepared for the game, so they weren’t really focused on me. But now that I’ve got to be on an official visit, they focused on me. They were showing me the facts, going out to eat with them, and just getting to talk to them and learn from them.”
Blair plans to make a decision July 5 after his final visit to Penn State this weekend. As for where Florida State stands right now, the four-star didn’t give a ranking but did say how the official visit stood out.
“I’d say this is on a different level. Once you get to this level, I do kinda view it as business because that’s the way you should carry yourself if you wanna get to the NFL,” Blair said. “If you want to get to the next level, you should carry yourself like you’ve got a goal. It’s a business. You’re trying to get there. You’re a bossman …
“This visit was a great visit overall. It was definitely a great visit. I loved everything, I loved how they carried themselves. It was amazing.”
Four-star defensive end Jared Smith was yet another top-100 player on Florida State’s campus this week. After the visit, the ‘Noles continue to be a major contender.
“FSU has always been high on my list, so it really hasn’t changed …,” he said. “The official visit was great; it was the best I’ve been on so far.”
The biggest focus of Smith’s visit was on development. The Hoover, Ala., standout got to spend time with Florida State defensive end Patrick Payton and even watch his film from freshman year to see the improvement to now.
“I got around Pat Payton and some of those guys, just asking them how they like it here, what the everyday thing is like …,” Smith said. “They produce, they develop. As you see with Pat Payton, they develop. I was watching film with Pat Payton as a freshman, wearing 56. They develop.”
Smith, who is rated the No. 5 defensive end in the On3 Industry Ranking, will now take an official visit to Southern Cal this weekend, and then go to Auburn for Big Cat Weekend in July. After those two visits, he will likely make a decision in early August.
*ALSO SEE: Michael Langston’s follow-up thoughts on FSU’s official visits
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