Spring Tour Stop No. 10: Four-star DE Fann impressed by FSU's new staff

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TWIN CITY, Ga. -- The Warchant.com Spring Recruiting Tour makes its second stop in Georgia and pays a visit to Emanuel County Institute defensive end Curtis Fann Jr. In this installment, Fann discusses his emergence as one of the top defensive ends in the Southeast, his interest in Florida State, when he plans to get back on the Seminoles' campus and more.

Also see the previous stops on our Spring Recruiting Tour:

Stop 1: Madison County -- Checking in on FSU commit Travis Jay, more

Stop 2: Hollywood Chaminade -- WR Dunmore, teammates have FSU's attention

Stop 3: Cardinal Gibbons DE Bogle opens up about the 'Noles

Stop 4: FSU commit Akeem Dent oozes confidence

Stop 5: 'Noles hot on trail of several IMG targets

Stop 6: Rivals100 OL Putnam talks Frey, FSU and more

Stop 7: Polk County prospects high on the 'Noles

Stop 8: What's the latest with D-Linemen Fuller, Hunter?

Stop 9: Emerging Peach State LB very high on FSU

Growing up in nearby south Georgia and having family members in Florida, four-star defensive end Curtis Fann Jr., has long had a strong interest in the Florida State Seminoles.

What he didn't know until recently was whether FSU would have much of an interest in him, since he didn't hear much from the Seminoles' former coaching staff.

The new staff has since delivered that message loud and clear. Once first-year coach Willie Taggart finished putting his crew together, FSU quickly made Fann a priority and got him to take a visit to Tallahassee this spring.

And that trip made quite an impression.

"I was shocked, surprised how real and genuine the coaching staff was," Fann said. "The love was not anything I've seen. FSU is like no place I've been. The coaches were right there when you arrive. My aunt lives in Florida, in West Palm Beach, so I already liked the state."

Fann rattled off several things he liked about FSU, but one of the biggest positives for the Seminoles has been the relationships he's built with defensive ends coach Mark Snyder and defensive tackles coach Odell Haggins.

"I would say FSU got to know me personally before they really pushed or talked about the football stuff," the four-star defensive end said. "You see how much they care when you are around the staff. I talk the most with Coach Haggins and Coach Snyder. It's unique. Most schools want to talk about football all the time. But FSU made it clear they loved me as a person first."

Although he already is built like a college football player at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, Fann hasn't always been a dominant player. He said he didn't really start taking football seriously until a couple of years ago, when he started having success at tight end and defensive end.

"I think everything just clicked at the end of my ninth-grade year," Fann said. "I still play tight end and defensive end here, but I like hitting people more than catching the ball. But I just want to get on the field as much as I can."