Florida State's 2027 recruiting class is shaping up nicely, and at the heart of it is a blue-chip linebacker who's been rock-solid in his commitment—until now. Gregory Batson, the Seminoles' second-highest rated pledge, has been locked in with FSU since last November, but the Mississippi State Bulldogs are turning up the heat to flip him.
In today's college football recruiting world, a commitment is rarely final until pen hits paper, and Mississippi State is making a serious push. The Bulldogs have been all-in since offering Batson last June, and their persistence hasn't gone unnoticed. "Just their intensity in trying to get me, even though I'm committed, they're still trying to get me and put pressure on me," Batson told Noles247, acknowledging the Bulldogs' relentless pursuit.
But Florida State isn't backing down. The Seminoles offered Batson back in January 2023, and they've been building a relationship ever since. He visited for a Junior Day event last March, took an unofficial visit in June, and was on campus for marquee matchups against Alabama and Miami last season—experiences that ultimately sealed his pledge. "Just the connections I built ever since my recruitment first started," Batson explained. "It's really not just one coach, but the whole staff and just the vibe that they give me every time I go down there, that's really the main thing."
That bond has been tested, but it's holding strong. Batson has returned to Tallahassee twice this year, most recently at the end of March to watch spring practice. It gave him a firsthand look at new linebackers coach Ernie Sims, a former five-star recruit and NFL veteran. "It was really intense. And one of the main things was he's been there," Batson said. "He's been the best recruit in the nation as a linebacker. So at the end of the day, he wants to take his guys where he is because he's been there."
On the field, Batson is a force to be reckoned with. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 215 pounds, the Lee County High School star is ranked as the No. 391 overall player and the nation's No. 30 linebacker by 247Sports composite rankings. He's also the No. 44 prospect in the state of Georgia, making him a prized asset in a heated recruiting battle.
For now, the Seminoles are holding onto their blue-chip linebacker, but with Mississippi State pushing hard, this is one recruitment to watch all the way to signing day.