Four-star linebacker Blake Nichelson commits to Florida State Football
After a fierce tug-of-war battle between Florida State and Oregon, Manteca (Calif.) four-star linebacker Blake Nichelson announced Tuesday night that he is heading south and east for his college years.
He committed to the Florida State Seminoles.
“Everyone at Florida State is genuine. It was not all about recruiting with me,” Nichelson told On3. The coaches were not fake. They tell you straight-up what they want, how they feel, and they really care about me. It is not just the recruit with Florida State and that meant more to me than anything.”
This was a tight race for most of the spring, but the Seminoles seemed to really separate themselves after Nichelson took two visits during the summer — one in June for an official visit and then the second one in July on his family’s dime.
*ALSO SEE: What FSU is getting in linebacker commit Blake Nichelson
After that multiple-day visit, Nichelson raved about the connection he had with the Seminoles’ coaches, while singling out head coach Mike Norvell.
“For a lot of head coaches, they just talk with you a couple of times and not really involved with you,” he said at the time. “But as a head coach, he’s very involved with everybody. He’s there for you.”
On the second visit, the talented linebacker seemed to build a stronger bond with some of FSU’s committed prospects.
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“I got to talk some with KJ Sampson and also Lucas Simmons. I got to see how they like Florida State,” Nichelson said. “Like really what got them to commit here and kind of building those relationships, because they are really important to me. Because those are people if I were to go here that I would be playing with.”
Florida State also checked off another important box with some impressive wins early this season. Nichelson loved what he saw from the ‘Noles against LSU in New Orleans.
“I definitely would say that’s one of the best games I’ve watched,” he said. “With it being super fast-paced, and the overall game was great. The ‘Noles went out there and kind of proved where they are going to be this season or the coming years.”
Nichelson’s primary recruiters, along with Norvell, have been general manager of personnel Darrick Yray and linebackers coach Randy Shannon.
ALSO SEE: More from On3 on Nichelson’s commitment
Nichelson becomes the 16th commitment for FSU’s 2023 class if you count Penn State RB transfer Caziah Holmes, who can practice but not play for FSU this season.
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