Events like the Seminole Showcase, which FSU’s football staff hosted this past weekend, are generally geared toward building future recruiting classes.
Retaining current commitments is another primary focus, however, and the Seminoles appeared to make major strides in that area.
Not only did several current FSU commits attend the event, but they worked on recruiting other players and proclaimed strong belief in the Seminoles’ future.
While other schools continue to push for five-star OL Solomon Thomas, he has continued to be very locked in with the Seminoles, and he displayed that feeling by coming back to FSU for the Seminole Showcase.
“It was good, really good getting to know most of the (current FSU) players and what they are going to be like when I get here,” Thomas said. “Getting to know the scheme, my teammates, just building a relationship with the guys. … I know how hard they work on the field, and now getting to know them as people, I think they are pretty cool people too. I also took away how they take care of their bodies physically.”
Thomas has said he likes the brotherhood among players at FSU, and there was a moment during the Showcase when he actually took some time to help four-star 2026 offensive lineman Darius Gray.
“When I see good linemen, I kind of just gravitate towards them,” Thomas said. “I know what it looks like, and I know what it takes to be good on and off the field. When I see it, it makes me want to be there. Even if it’s a phone call away. And I’ll be here next year, and I can pass along knowledge to help them.”
As far as recruiting, Thomas mentioned that LSU and Florida are schools that still reach out to him and try to get him on campus.
But the five-star recruit said he feels at home at FSU and is not really entertaining other schools trying to get him.
Thomas also talked about his close bond with FSU offensive coordinator/line coach Alex Atkins.
“He’s is a real dude,” Thomas said. “He has morals and things that other coaches don’t. Coach Atkins is going to get on your behind. And as a recruit, he’s already got on my behind a couple of times, and you don’t usually hear that about a coach.
“How much is the coach really going to be there for you? How many coaches are there where you call them and they answer on the first ring? … I call Coach Atkins or Coach [Mike] Norvell, they always answer the phone. That’s the communication that ensures me I know I will be OK.”
FSU WR commit CJ Wiley put an absolute show during the Seminole Showcase, and the Georgia product seemed to love catching passes from fellow commit Tramell Jones.
“I had a great time. Working with Tramell was great. He throws a really good ball, and he puts the ball where you want it as a receiver, where the DB can’t get it,” Wiley said. “Our relationship was really good. I knew Tramell since middle school at a camp, so we have been close for a while, and it just grew.”
Wiley also highlighted the energy from FSU head coach Mike Norvell.
“He’s a really good coach, and I really like his energy. He’s also out there helping the receivers in the drills, and I like that,” Wiley said. “Being back here is great. I’m home. Just the connection with everybody, feeling is different. I always have a smile on my face when I’m here. It’s the atmosphere and energy. When I watched them the last few years, you could really tell they were going to be good.”
Wiley isn’t going to wait a long time to see an FSU home game as a commit. He plans to be at the Seminoles’ home opener.
The four-star receiver also opened up about his surprising commitment to FSU this summer.
“I wanted to keep it to myself, but I knew since my official visit,” Wiley said. “I think a lot of people thought it was going to be Georgia. As I said, every time I’m here I’m smiling all the time.
As for why he attended the Seminole Showcase: “Coach [Ron] Dugans called me up and said let’s get some work in. I think it speaks to the strength of my commitment.”
While he is still gong to listen to other schools, Wiley made it clear it’s going to be very difficult to change his mind. And he added that he plans to be at FSU for several home games this fall.
Then with FSU QB commit Tramell Jones, he almost acts like a player already on the team since he’s been here at FSU so much. And the Jacksonville product put on another show with his passing performance at the Showcase.
“It went very good,” Jones said. “Getting coached up by Coach [Tony] Tokarz, Coach Norvell was great. Really like the future. I’ll be here in a couple of months. I didn’t feel I did my best, so I can do better. Came out here and I told Coach Tokarz that I’m like the old guy out here with all these young quarterbacks
“Throwing with Brady (Smigiel , 2026 FSU commit) was really cool. Being there with the future QBs. He’s a big physical thrower. He can really push it down the field strongly. I think he’s going be very successful. Then I was throwing a lot to CJ Wiley today. I worked hard on him coming here. You can see that connection with me and him. He’s a very good deep ball threat and he has strong hands. Him as a whole, he’s a great receiver.”
Jones chimed even further on the FSU QB room for the future.
“I think it’s going to be the best quarterback room in the country,” he said.
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