Despite home-state pull, FSU still in picture for 5-star DE Thomas

As we have seen since he joined Jimbo Fisher's staff three years ago, defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Brad Lawing seems to have an ability to win over recruits who otherwise might not be strongly considering Florida State.

Five-star defensive end Josh Kaindoh was a prime example in the Seminoles' most recent signing class. There was a time in the recruiting process when Kaindoh was committed to Maryland and FSU appeared to have no shot. Lawing kept working at the relationship, however, and Kaindoh ended up choosing the Seminoles and enrolling in January.

Lawing and FSU are hoping for the same kind of result from the relationship he has built with one of the nation's top DE prospects in the 2018 class, Xavier Thomas of IMG Academy in Bradenton. The challenge will be great considering Thomas is strongly considering Clemson and South Carolina -- he is originally from the state of South Carolina -- but don't count the 'Noles out just yet.

"Yes sir, I'm still very interested in Florida State," Thomas told Warchant.com this week. "I talk with Coach Lawing nearly every day. He gave me my first offer, and I've never forgot that. We have a great relationship. I was actually going to visit last weekend for the Junior Day, but I just couldn't make it unfortunately."

Although he didn't make that trip, Thomas says he will be visiting FSU soon. That trip could happen either for the spring game in early April or shortly thereafter in the summer.

"I'm going to visit there for sure," Thomas said. "I have a great relationship with Coach Lawing, but he's really the only one I've talked with, so I want to get to know the other people on the staff and be around the players also to get a vibe for everything."

While still a junior in high school, Thomas already has the physique of a college starter at 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds. But he wasn't quite that size when Lawing first spotted him and made him an offer during his freshman year.

That's only part of the reason he and Lawing have a close relationship.

"He keeps it real. He doesn't give you false dreams," Thomas said. "He tells you what he can do and sees in you, who is there, and also how he can make you a better man. I've watched a lot what he does with defensive linemen, and he does a tremendous job. He has a presence to him with his coaching.

"He's very demanding, and that's what I really like."