FSU gets needed increase as Williams commits

• Eli Lederman, ESPN Personnel WriterSep 4, 2024, 10:19 PM ET

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  Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He signed up with ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.Florida State landed

a top-40 promise in the 2026 class with a dedication from four-star safety Izayia Williams on Wednesday night, a recruiting success for coach Mike Norvell and the Seminoles amidst their spectacular 0-2 start to this season.Williams, a 6-foot-1

, 210-pound protector from Tavares, Florida, is the No. 39 possibility in the ESPN Junior 300. He was formerly committed to Syracuse before he drawing back on Aug. 4.

ESPN’s fifth-ranked safety in the 2026 cycle, Williams is now the highest-rated member of a 2026 Florida State class that includes three other ESPN 300 pledges.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Williams

‘ commitment arrives just days after he took a pair of in-state check outs in Week 1. He was at Florida on Saturday to see Miami hand Billy Napier and the Gators a 41-17 home defeat, then went to Florida State throughout its 28-13 loss to Boston College on Monday night.Williams told ESPN the atmosphere around the Florida State coaching personnel and his connection with Norvell ultimately bolstered his attachment to the Seminoles, swaying his dedication in the instant consequences of the program’s second consecutive defeat.”Every program has a bad game– that does not determine what a program is truly,”Williams said.”When I talked with Coach Norvell, it was different than speaking with other coaches. I could feel that distinction. He wants me to be something fantastic there at some point. “Williams, who chose Florida State over Florida and Miami, is the 6th member of the Seminoles 2026 class. He headings a group of ESPN Junior 300 promises that consists of No. 7 pocket passer Brady Smigiel(No. 64 in the ESPN 300) and in-state four-star athletes Efrem White (No. 111) and Darryon Williams(No. 222). The Seminoles’2025 class signed in at No. 18 in ESPN’s most current team rankings for the cycle launched Wednesday.Williams is in his junior season at Florida’s Tavares High School. Previously anticipated to continue with a schedule of campus visits this fall, he said he no longer planned to take any trips after his dedication to Florida State.” I never ever really got this sensation with any other schools– it resembled an iffy sensation for me,” Williams stated.

“But this is various.”The Seminoles are off in Week 2 after crashing out of the AP Top 25 earlier this week. They go back to action in Week 3 to

host Memphis on Sept. 14 on ESPN.