Florida State University has secured a marquee addition to its football roster with the verbal commitment of four‑star safety Ta'Shawn Poole, the highest‑rated recruit in the Seminoles’ current class.
Poole’s pledge marks more than just a talent boost; it also rewrites a piece of Georgia high school history, as he became the first player from Howard High School to be selected for the Atlanta Journal‑Constitution’s prestigious Super 11.
During his junior season at Howard, Poole recorded 40 tackles, intercepted two passes, caught 30 passes for 454 yards and seven touchdowns, and added 200 rushing yards with four more scores, even returning a punt for a touchdown.
Elite rankings and historic context
The 247Sports composite places Poole at No. 64 overall nationally and No. 6 among safeties, while he stands as the fifth‑best prospect from Georgia. His arrival comes at a time when Florida State has not signed a safety ranked in the top 100 since Sam McCall in the 2022 class.
Coached by Evan Cooper, Poole will join another safety commit, three‑star Jemari Foreman, giving the Seminoles a promising duo in the secondary.
AJC Super 11 and the Georgia pipeline
The AJC’s Super 11, which spotlights the state’s 11 best senior players since 1985, underscores the caliber of talent Poole brings to Tallahassee and highlights the continued pipeline of elite Georgia prospects into the ACC.
The commitment not only bolsters the defensive scheme but also signals Florida State’s intent to compete fiercely for top in‑state talent in the upcoming recruiting cycle.