Thursday Insider: Florida State Seminoles Land a Historical WR Recruit, Sooners Five-Star Flips Commitment to Wolverines Over Texas and Tennessee; This One Is Very Significant Because of the History He Has With…
College football’s recruiting trail continues to deliver fireworks, and this Thursday has brought two major storylines shaking up the national landscape. Florida State added a wide receiver to their class that could go down as one of the most important signings in program history, while the Michigan Wolverines pulled off a massive flip from the Oklahoma Sooners—overpowering traditional SEC heavyweights Texas and Tennessee to land a five-star recruit. And this flip is especially significant, not just for rankings, but because of the unique history between the player and a certain coach in Ann Arbor.
Let’s break it all down.
Florida State Lands Historic WR Recruit
The Seminoles have been on a recruiting roll since Mike Norvell’s resurgence of the program, but Thursday’s addition of Jaylen “J5” Matthews marks a defining moment. Matthews, a 6’3”, 195-pound receiver out of Miami, has long been considered one of the most electrifying talents in the 2025 class. With speed, size, and an elite ability to separate from defenders, he’s drawn comparisons to NFL standouts like DeAndre Hopkins and CeeDee Lamb.
But what makes this commit historical for FSU isn’t just Matthews’ on-field skill—it’s what he represents. Matthews is the first top-five overall player from South Florida to choose FSU over Miami and Florida in nearly two decades. The last? None other than Peter Warrick-era wideout Talman Gardner.
For Norvell and his staff, this is more than a win—it’s a statement. Re-establishing dominance in Florida’s most competitive recruiting battleground gives the Seminoles a serious edge moving forward, especially in NIL battles and regional pipeline building.
Five-Star Flip: Sooners Star Chooses Michigan Over Texas and Tennessee
Equally stunning was the flip of five-star linebacker Darian “DJ” Simmons from Oklahoma to Michigan. Simmons, ranked as the No. 2 linebacker in the 2025 class, had been a vocal commit to the Sooners for months, even helping recruit other players to Norman. But as Thursday morning reports confirmed, Simmons will now be donning maize and blue.
The Wolverines not only beat out Oklahoma but fended off a furious last-minute push from both Texas and Tennessee—schools that many believed had the edge due to location, NIL, and depth chart. But Michigan’s ace in the hole? Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, who first scouted Simmons during his early high school days in Georgia and maintained a close relationship with the family ever since.
This one is very significant because of the history he has with Minter.
Back when Simmons was a rising sophomore, Minter—then a rising star assistant—visited his high school and began forming a mentorship-like bond. That relationship blossomed, and when Minter got the Michigan DC job, he kept tabs on Simmons, even as other programs surged ahead. That long-standing trust was ultimately what swayed Simmons and his inner circle, who prioritized coaching stability and NFL development.
Insiders say Simmons sees Minter as someone who understands his game on a deep level and will prepare him not just for Big Ten dominance but the pro level. With Michigan’s recent defensive track record—sending guys like Aidan Hutchinson and Mike Morris to the NFL—Simmons’ commitment makes even more sense.
A Changing Recruiting Landscape
These two major moves also speak to the larger shifting tides in college football. NIL deals, coaching relationships, and program momentum now carry more weight than tradition alone. Florida State is showing that they’re back to competing with the elite, while Michigan proves that even in the heart of SEC territory, it can still poach blue-chip talent.
If this Thursday is any indicator, the 2025 recruiting cycle is going to be one for the books.