Top 2024 recruiting battles to watch between Florida State and Miami

Historically, there are few rivalries with as much bad blood as Florida State and Miami. Dating back to the 1980s, there is no love lost between two of the three major programs in the Sunshine State. In recent years, the on-field rivalry has dulled a bit due to both teams’ lack of success. But with Florida State’s resurgence over the past two years and Miami’s hiring of Mario Cristobal, things have heated up again.

Add to that both programs recruit heavily throughout Florida — and south Florida in particular — and these two coaching staffs run into each other often on the recruiting trail. 2024 will be no different, as both programs look to build on the recruiting momentum they built to end 2023.

Let’s break down five recruitments to watch, all of which FSU and Miami are expected to be a major factor in:

4-star S Zaquan Patterson 

School: Miami Gardens (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 51
On3 NIL Valuation: $77K

Patterson announced his top schools on New Year’s Day, a list that included Auburn, Penn State, Tennessee, Ohio State, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, Miami, LSU and Michigan. And he has plans to visit both the Hurricanes and Seminoles this spring and summer before he likely commits during or after his high school season.

“I really want to make a good decision cause I don’t want to just rush into it,” he told On3. I feel like a lot of people make a decision fast, the way they’re feeling at the moment, but you might not feel like that in a couple months, so I want to take my time so I make a good decision.”

4-star EDGE Dylan Stephenson 

School: Miami (Fla.) Christopher Columbus
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 96
On3 NIL Valuation: $64K

Stephenson might be in Hurricanes territory down in Miami, but Florida State isn’t backing down on one of the nation’s best pass-rushers. He visited Tallahassee in January and continues to like what he hears from FSU.

“I had a great time,” Stephenson told Warchant. “It wasn’t what I haven’t seen before, but I wanted to come by again. This is like my fourth or fifth time and just wanted to keep building the relationship.”

4-star EDGE Booker Pickett 

School: Tampa (Fla.) Wharton
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 82
On3 NIL Valuation: $63K

Pickett narrowed his list to nine schools last week, and the Hurricanes and Seminoles are both there, along with Georgia, Louisville, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee and USC. He is a Hurricanes’ legacy, but has high interest in Florida State and broke down what he sees in both programs.

Florida State: “That is my dream school. My dad went to Miami, so I wanted to be different as a kid. I have taken a lot of visits to Florida State, and I like what coach Mike Norvell is doing there. Their defense is always attacking, they have shown they can sack the quarterback and the program is coming back. Their coaches have gotten to know me, the people are great and that chant their fans do is something special.”

Miami: “My dad played at Miami, so I know a lot about the program. The culture, the coaches and the people there make them stand out for me. I am close with Coach Cristobal and I know Coach Jason Taylor would develop me. It is a school coming back up and me and Coach Cristobal have gotten close. It has that home feeling for me down there.”

4-star WR Chance Robinson

School: Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 134
On3 NIL Valuation: $59K

Robinson told CaneSport in January that no programs specifically are standing out in his recruitment, but he’s in contact and has offers from both the Hurricanes and Seminoles.

“It’s been smooth I’m just taking my time talking to a few different coaches,” Robinson said of his recruiting process. “I’ve been talking to Miami, Penn State, Florida State, and a little bit with LSU. Just keeping my options open.”

Miami just hired a new offensive coordinator after parting ways with Josh Gattis, but with no decision in sight for Robinson, the ‘Canes have plenty of time to stay in this race.

4-star OT Jonathan Daniels 

School: Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest
On3 Consensus Ranking: No. 150
On3 NIL Valuation: $47K

Miami is a bit later to the party with Daniels than its in-state counterparts after extending an offer in late December, but they’re far from out of it. The Hurricanes have brought in no shortage of elite offensive linemen under Cristobal, and Daniels fits the bill. LSU, Florida State, Florida, Georgia, and Auburn are among the other schools seriously involved with him.