JUCO safety Ashlynd Barker commits to Florida State Seminoles
Mike Norvell and the Florida State coaching staff have said they don’t worry about star rankings when they recruit, and they proved that again with their latest commitment.
Junior college defensive back Ashlynd Barker, who barely has a recruiting profile with On3 and other recruiting websites, committed to Florida State on Tuesday. The Columbus, Ga., native comes from Iowa Western Community College, and has four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting last season.
Barker was essentially not recruited out of high school due to a variety of reasons, including missing time due to injury and the coronavirus pandemic. He checks in at 6-foot-2 and about 205 pounds.
The Seminoles offered Barker after defensive coordinator Adam Fuller went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to watch the 2022 national champion Reivers’ spring practice. Since that time, several other schools have reached out as well.
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Barker’s commitment will help with depth at safety, a position that has become a major need for Florida State since the post-spring departures of Omarion “Duke” Cooper and Travis Jay.
But he will not be the last safety FSU goes after. The Seminoles are still looking for an experienced safety after missing out last week on UAB transfer Jaylen Key, who picked Alabama over Florida State.
Barker will be added to Florida State’s 2023 signing class and can join the program this summer. He’s the fourth safety prospect in that group, joining Conrad Hussey, KJ Kirkland and Ja’Bril Rawls.
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