Penn State loses four-star defensive back Conrad Hussey to Florida State
Four-star St. Thomas Aquinas defensive back Conrad Hussey has made a final decision about his future home. The 6-foot, 185-pound Class of 2023 recruit, who is a member of the On300 and a longtime Penn State commit, flipped to and signed with Florida State on Thursday.
Hussey signed with the Seminoles after taking an official visit to Tallahassee the weekend of Dec. 9.
Tracing Conrad Hussey’s Penn State recruitment
Penn State landed Hussey’s commitment on April 25, 2022. He picked the Lions over Florida, Florida State, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Colorado. Miami would later become a player, as well. He took his Lions official visit in June but saw both the Seminoles and Hurricanes on 48-hour all-expenses-paid trips in December.
“It was the right choice for me because I already had an environment like St. Thomas and a program just that good,” Hussey told BWI when he picked head coach James Franklin’s program. Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter were his primary and secondary recruiters, respectively.
“It just felt right for me to go there. Also, the teammates and coaches there just show the true value in a team and family, which I also look for in the team. I just love the environment. And, I can see myself growing as a player and just as a human over there.”
However, in the weeks and days leading up to the early signing day, it became clear that Penn State would have to fight hard to keep the nation’s 248th-ranked player and No. 18 safety, according to the On3 Consensus Rankings. He never signed on Wednesday when the early signing period began but did so on Thursday.
“Conrad is struggling (with a decision) because Penn State has been on him for so long, Miami since spring,” St. Thomas Aquinas athletic director Tway Russell told BWI sister site CaneSport this week. “He’s trying to connect the dots. He’s struggling with a program that’s on the rise and one that really wants him that has been on him the last three years.
“By his actions he’s definitely perplexed.”
Now, however, his final decision has been made.
Hussey is a highly-regarded recruit
There is no way to sugarcoat it: This is a big blow for the Penn State Class of 2023.
Hussey was a frequent riser throughout the recruiting cycle in On3’s rankings. He finished his senior year with a couple of interceptions, more than 30 tackles, and with a Class 3M Florida state championship.
“Conrad Hussey moved into the On300 on the heels of a strong showing at Overtime’s OT7 7-on-7 tournament along with a good track season,” On3 scouting director Charles Power wrote earlier this year.
“The 6-foot, 180-pounder was an interception machine at OT7 while manning up on top receivers at cornerback. Hussey also posed several good track times during the spring, cracking the sub 11.0 second mark in the 100 meters.”
Penn State signed two safeties on Wednesday: Hussey’s St. Thomas Aquinas teammate, four-star safety King Mack and Alabama four-star DaKaari Nelson.
