Four-star CB Lester III dedicates to Florida State

Blake Baumgartner, ESPN Personnel WriterJul 28, 2023, 09:13 PM ET Cornerback Charles Lester III devoted to Mike Norvell and Florida State on Friday night.The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Lester(No. 33 total in the 2024 ESPN 300 and No. 5 CB ), a four-star prospect who transferred to Venice High School(Florida)from Riverview High School (Florida) ahead of his senior year, right away ends up being the highest-ranked player in the Seminoles’class.”I’ve existed numerous times and simply being around individuals, I got a terrific sensation for those people there,” Lester told ESPN. “I trust them and it’s my youth dream school. … Out of all the locations I have actually been, I just get that feeling for that school each time. So just from individuals, opportunity and the way they’re choosing their program now, that assisted me choose my choice.”Florida State, which went 10-3 in 2022, is coming off its very first 10-win project given that 2016– the last year of a seven-year stretch in which the program won at least 10 games six times (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016). He played both methods last season for Riverview, obstructing five passes while taking 12 receiving goals

as a wide receiver on offense. His goal this year at Venice with this decision out of the way and all of his focus on the field: take one to the house on defense for the first time in his prep career.Editor’s Picks< img src ="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2023/0718/r1199285_1296x1296_1-1.jpg&w=130&h=130&scale=crop&location=center"width ="65"

height =”65″/ > Lester, who took official visits to Alabama, Colorado and Florida State in June, would be the very first ESPN 300 cornerback to sign with Florida State given that Omarion Cooper (No. 138 overall) and Hunter Washington (No. 217 overall) in 2021.

He told ESPN that he chose his commitment to Norvell and the Seminoles’ training staff throughout his official see June 16-18. He added that at one point he was leaning toward going with Alabama, but the sensation he got every time he was in Tallahassee made an enduring impression.

“Every time I go there, it’s a household affair. The bonding experience is one of none, so that extremely last, the official [go to], I simply felt my heart shaking and I just knew by the last day, before I took off, I understood that’s what I wished to do.

“It indicates the world. I wished to be a Seminole my entire life. Going through this process, I weighed all my chances out and it’s just a dream coming to life to be sincere.”

Lester would be the highest-ranked cornerback to sign with the program considering that Asante Samuel Jr. (No. 14 overall, No. 3 CB) and A.J. Lytton (No. 29 total, No. 4 CB) both signed as part of its 2018 class.In 2022, the Seminoles’defense ranked third in all of FBS in pass defense (158.8 YPG) however came down with just eight interceptions as an unit– a significant drop from the 14 interceptions the group had in 2021.

Senior Renardo Green (58 tackles, 42 solo), senior Akeem Dent (53 takes on, 29 solo) and sophomore Shyheim Brown (36 takes on, 19 solo), the team’s leading three tacklers at cornerback last season, in addition to junior Greedy Vance, Jr. (team-high 3 interceptions), all return this succumb to protective backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. and protective organizer Adam Fuller.

“I’m going to fit in great,” Lester stated. “I mean, they’re so ecstatic for me and they believe this is among the best chances to come in as a freshman, to come play on their defense. The strategy is for me to master the defense first, around the first year, and play offense a little bit.

“My length is major. It takes up a lot of space and it purchases me a little bit more time to put my hands on receivers with my long arms.”

Florida State’s 2024 class presently sits at 15th in ESPN’s rankings, while its 2023 class ended up 18th overall.