When a blue-chip linebacker decommits from Notre Dame, the college football world takes notice—and that’s exactly what happened with Ellis McGaskin. The 6-foot, 210-pound standout from Mobile, Alabama, reopened his recruitment in January, and now a fierce battle is brewing between some of the biggest programs in the country.

The LSU Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, and Florida Gators are all pushing hard for McGaskin, with LSU currently holding a slight edge. But don’t count out the Florida State Seminoles, who have been in hot pursuit for nearly three years and are making a strong case for the elite 2027 prospect.

McGaskin recently visited Tallahassee on April 4, and he had nothing but praise for the Seminoles’ approach. “I’ve been there around six or seven times, and the coaching staff stands out,” he told Rivals. “It is not just one or two coaches that recruit me, it is the whole staff at Florida State. They have always been on me hard, and that has had them high on my list for a long time.”

Ranked as the No. 338 overall player nationally and the No. 30 linebacker in the Rivals industry rankings, McGaskin is also the No. 17 prospect in Alabama. But his stats tell an even bigger story. As a junior at Williamson High School, he was a force of nature at middle linebacker, racking up 160 tackles (106 solo), 26 tackles for loss, four sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, one interception, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and four blocked punts. If that wasn’t enough, he also contributed on offense, rushing for 258 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries.

Now, McGaskin is gearing up for a busy official visit schedule that will likely determine his next move. He’ll be at Florida on May 28-30, Georgia on June 5-7, Florida State on June 12-14, and LSU on June 19-21. He plans to make his decision after these visits are complete, allowing him to focus fully on his senior season.

For fans of the Seminoles, this is a recruitment to watch closely. With a relentless coaching staff and a clear connection to the program, Florida State is positioning itself as a serious contender for one of the most explosive linebackers in the 2027 class.