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4-star QB Commits to FSU! Former Sooners pledge Jaden O'Neal flips to 'Noles

On3 imageby: Michael Langston06/22/25MichaelWarchant
Four-Star QB Jaden O'Neal at Florida State (Matt LaSerre/Warchant)
Four-Star QB Jaden O'Neal at Florida State (Matt LaSerre/Warchant)

Even as the FSU football staff picked up momentum on the recruiting trail in recent weeks, with multiple commitments and other positive developments, there was a growing concern about the Seminoles’ lack of a quarterback in this class.

That is no longer a concern.

Former Oklahoma commit Jaden O’Neal, a four-star prospect that FSU has been focused on for quite some time, announced Sunday he has flipped to the Seminoles after taking an official visit to Tallahassee last week. O’Neal decommitted from OU on Thursday.

“Just the consistency the coaching staff has shown me since eighth-grade year,” O’Neal told Warchant’s Matt LaSerre. “Coach Mike Norvell played a huge part into that, Coach Tony [Tokarz] played a huge part in that throughout my whole recruiting process since the eighth grade. And then Coach Gus [Malzahn] as of recently, you know, seeing his ability to develop, being able to talk to him and talk some ball and being able to relate to him on that basis. That’s kind of just some of the factors that played into me choosing FSU.”

According to the On3 Industry Ranking, O’Neal is the No. 2-rated player in the state of Oklahoma and the No. 16 quarterback in the nation. He is listed at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, and he had been committed to Oklahoma since June 2024.

FSU’s coaches turned their attention to O’Neal earlier this year when Brady Smigiel backed out of his pledge to the Seminoles and eventually ended up with Michigan.

When O’Neal took an unofficial visit to Florida State earlier this year for a spring practice, he came away impressed with the offense and new coordinator Gus Malzahn.

“I feel like he’s kind of like a guy I can relate to,” O’Neal said at the time. “I feel like he wants to throw the ball, he knows how to use the quarterback’s strengths and weaknesses.”

*ALSO SEE: In-depth interview with O’Neal about his decision and more

Michael’s analysis on O’Neal and FSU

Massive is the best adjective to describe this development for the Seminoles. There was cautious optimism on the Florida State side going into his official visit, and FSU’s coaches have to be elated to pull off the flip. I think Malzahn was a big factor here from an X’s and O’s standpoint, and quarterbacks coach Tony Tokarz also built a strong personal connection.

A high-profile quarterback commitment often impacts an entire class, so landing O’Neal before the end of the summer is huge for the ‘Noles. There’s a very good chance it will help with other offensive targets, especially at wide receiver.

Interestingly, this is the second year in a row that FSU has been able to flip a quarterback commitment from Oklahoma, as the Seminoles snared Kevin Sperry in the class of 2025.

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