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Fisher Spearheading Seminoles' Recruiting Resurgence
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Published: January 25, 2008
TALLAHASSEE Shortly after Jimbo Fisher was officially hired by Florida State last January, he made perhaps the most meaningful recruiting trip of his coaching career, a journey to Bayside High in Virginia Beach, Va.
As a former college quarterback and fresh off a stint at LSU coaching No. 1 overall NFL draft pick JaMarcus Russell, Fisher knew if FSU was to rejoin the nation's elite programs - the primary reason FSU made Fisher the highest-paid assistant coach in school history - the Noles needed an elite quarterback such as Bayside's E.J. Manuel to lead them back from mediocrity.
Apparently, Fisher was in good form that day in Bayside coach Darnell Moore's office as he visited Manuel for the first time.
"We clicked from the start," Manuel said Thursday. "I could tell he was a coach that could teach me a lot about playing quarterback and make me a better player. He made a strong impression on me."
Based on FSU's 2008 class, Manuel isn't alone.
As National Signing Day on Feb. 6 quickly approaches, Fisher has firmly established himself atop FSU's recruiting hierarchy, a transition further solidified Thursday by the official announcement that FSU recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach John Lilly is leaving to become Georgia's tight ends coach.
When Fisher was named Bowden's eventual successor in early December, Bowden and FSU President T.K. Wetherell both said Fisher's role would expand beyond his duties as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Still, questions surfaced about what exactly Fisher's expanded role would be as he contemplated leaving to become West Virginia's head coach the week of Christmas.
Fisher, after a weekend of in-depth talks with Wetherell and Bowden, opted to remain at FSU with the assurance he would have more influence in the program's direction even while Bowden remained king of the castle.
"Coach Bowden is the coach, but where it's going to be in the future and all those things, that's part of it," Fisher said the day the team arrived for the Music City Bowl. "Where we've got to go, how we've got to do it, and the vision we have for this program."
Whether Fisher officially takes on the title of recruiting coordinator remains uncertain, but what is evident is that he is a tireless recruiter who is committed to making the most of the unique opportunity presented to him by Wetherell. Fisher has spearheaded FSU's renewed recruiting efforts over the past year and if the early returns prove correct, FSU should end up with one of the nation's top classes.
"Right now, the Noles are bringing in their usual collection of great athletes and big-name high school talent," FOXSports.com recruiting analyst Pete Fiutak wrote Thursday. "No one does a better job of closing on signing day, but as is, Bowden, Fisher and Co. are doing more than fine getting LB Nigel Bradham, QB E.J. Manuel and WR Corey Surrency - three of the best prospects in America at their respective positions.
"If FSU is doing such a great job now, then the general feeling is that the final tally might be truly special."
As of Thursday, FSU had received 22 verbal commitments, the latest from Jacksonville Bolles offensive lineman Garrett Faircloth on Wednesday. After the Noles lost to Kentucky in the Music City Bowl, Bowden spoke with more urgency than usual on the importance of a good recruiting class.
"I definitely feel the direction we're going in is the correct direction, and the only way we're going to solve it is recruiting," he said. "I think we've got our hands on some good ones right now if we can just maintain it."
Lilly's departure isn't expected to have a significant impact on the FSU's current commitments, as Bowden, Fisher and Co. have made visits and calls to recruits who already have committed.
"I'm excited about what we're recruiting," Fisher said recently. "They totally understand where we're coming from and how we want things done and the way we are."
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