Senior cornerback Tarvarus McFadden committed to Florida State University this morning in front of friends, family and media in the Media Center. His announcement was broadcast live on ESPN Recruiting Nation.
McFadden initially reached for a white FSU hat before putting it down and grabbing a black Georgia hat. For a second everyone thought he was committing to the Bulldogs, but he pulled out another Garnett FSU hat from inside the Georgia hat and put it on his head.
The recent success of FSU, winning the National Championship last season and riding a 24-game win streak with a comeback victory over Louisville last night led McFadden to commit to the Seminoles. Also the impact of true freshmen, Ermon Lane, Dalvin Cook, and Travis Rudolph, who are all from south Florida, show getting playing time early is a big possibility for McFadden.
McFadden said it was difficult to tell his former Heritage teammates Sony Michel and Isaiah McKenzie, who are both at Georgia, that he wouldn’t be joining them in college. McFadden said Michel, whom he talked to two nights ago, wished him the best and told him he had to make the best decision for himself.
At 6 foot 3, 200 lbs McFadden is large for a cornerback. ESPN ranks him the 49th best player in the nation and 5th best cornerback. His mother, Mrs. Shaquanda McFadden, said she realized McFadden would be able to play in college when she watched her son lead his Pop Warner team to the Super Bowl when he was 13. She said she knew her son had a special talent since “God blessed him with his height.”
Head football coach Mike Rumph believes McFadden will graduate from FSU early and play in the NFL in three years, hopefully for the Miami Dolphins. Rumph who played in the NFL for five seasons hoped to play for his hometown Dolphins, but didn’t get the chance. McFadden has also shared in the past that he hopes to play in the NFL for his hometown team.
