Rivals100 LB Xavier Peters flips from Kentucky to FSU
Florida State's big recruiting weekend is already paying dividends, as the Seminoles received a commitment Sunday from Rivals100 linebacker Xavier Peters.
Peters, a four-star prospect from Ohio, was previously was committed to Kentucky. He was one of a half-dozen official visitors to Florida State this weekend and confirmed his commitment to Warchant late Sunday morning.
"Yes I did. What made me go here is my love of FSU as a young kid and then seeing the culture Coach Taggart and the players was the difference,” Peters said. “What also helped my Uncle Craig always loved FSU and wanted me to go here.”
Linebacker is a major area of need for FSU's recruiting class, as the Seminoles lost starters Matthew Thomas, Ro'Derrick Hoskins and Jacob Pugh to graduation. But it also looks like that Peters could be playing two different positions.
"They like me at defensive end, but also Sam linebacker because of how good I am in coverage,” he said. “I weighed in at 246 pounds. They like how I can attack the edge, but also cover so much ground with my speed. I can't wait to get here.”
He also had a very tight relationship with FSU assistant coach Raymond Woodie. Peters talked more about that bond and why it was so strong. Even all the way back to Oregon where the relationship started.
"I'm going to keep it real,” Peters said. “I'm going to give you the plan in what I expect and I'm not going to sugarcoat it. He's always direct, real like that and that's why we have always had that tight bond from the start.”
At the same time another thing that helped FSU was a former legend at FSU, which seemed to really help take things to another level.
"When I saw Deion Sanders talk up Coach Taggart and do that, I thought that was a very big moment and that really got this thing going for me,” he said. “Then being on the visit. I was so blown away by the stadium, facilities, press box, everything. This is not something you see every day at other schools. It's a special bond here.”
Peters becomes the 13th commitment for the Seminoles' 2018 class. Seven of those players signed during the early signing period in December.
FSU is expected to sign a class of 20 or 21 prospects by National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
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