One four-star defender is a high priority for Florida State, to the point the Seminoles are a heavy favorite to land him. Yet a rival is also tightening this race.
Florida State football is winning over multiple four-star recruits early for the 2027 class.
But while FSU is in a great spot for one notable defender, a longtime rival of the Seminoles are also in a tight-knit race for this talent.
Tom Loy of 247Sports revealed Jacksonville native Desmond Malpress is involved in a heated battle involving FSU on the recruiting trail. So who else is in the fold?
"As of today, sources believe this is a close battle between Florida and Florida State when it comes to the eventual landing spot of Malpress," Loy wrote.
Loy adds: "247Sports recently caught up with Malpress, who made it clear that the Gators, Seminoles, Alabama and Georgia were doing the best job so far with his process. Any of these four programs could land him. South Carolina likely rounds out the Top 5 for the coveted pass rusher."
Still, the in-state options for the Atlantic Coast High School star are creating the biggest buzz for the edge rusher.
"That said, there is a lot of buzz about both Florida and Florida State," Loy said.
At one point, Florida's previous regime got the Gators to look like the proverbial favorite to win over Malpress.
"For a while, there was a belief that he was going to land in Gainesville. Billy Napier and his staff were doing a great job of connecting with Malpress and making him a priority," Loy said.
But how are the efforts of the incoming head coach from Tulane?
"The new staff, led by head coach Jon Sumrall, has picked up right where the prior staff left off," Loy said. "They are all over Malpress and have been pushing all of the right buttons since their arrival. It also helps that there are some family members of Malpress who are big Florida fans."
Mike Norvell and members of his FSU staff, however, aren't out of the race yet.
"That said, don't count out Florida State. In fact, they may have the edge right now," Loy said. "The staff recently hosted him on campus, and the trip couldn't have gone better. For Malpress, there is no better relationship with any coach than Florida State edge coach and pass-rush specialist Nick Williams."
Malpress isn't the only four-star very much on the FSU radar. Same with fellow edge rusher Santana Harvey out of Lakeland.
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