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Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell crouches on the sideline during the second half against the Florida Gators at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun] Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

FSU football takes recruiting hit as OT target picks Gators

Originally posted on Florida State Seminoles on SI
By Dustin Lewis | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 3:44 PM ET

Florida State has lost another battle to the Florida Gators on the recruiting trail.

The Seminoles did nab four-star wide receiver Brandon Bennett over the Gators last week but they've seen a few targets end up in Gainesville, including four-star running back Carsyn Baker, four-star safety Kaiden Hall, and four-star wide receiver Justin Williams.

Most recently, three-star offensive tackle Tyler Chukuyem announced he was committing to Florida over Florida State, Ole Miss, and Cincinnati on Monday afternoon. Chukuyem took an official visit to the Gators over the weekend, making his pledge to the program ahead of his trip to Tallahassee which was expected to occur June 20-22.

The Seminoles and offensive line coach Herb Hand will now have to re-evalute the board. Chukuyem picked up an offer from Florida State in May, listing the program in his top-four earlier this month.

BREAKING: Class of 2026 OT Tyler Chukuyem has Committed to Florida, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’6 290 OT from Douglasville, GA chose the Gators over Ole Miss, Cincinnati, & Florida State

“Bet on yourself”https://t.co/JYcXWzGqSA pic.twitter.com/YWpmMRDvs5
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 16, 2025

Chukuyem was the starting right tackle at South Paulding High School as a junior.

The 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive lineman is regarded as the No. 554 overall prospect, the No. 36 OT and the No. 46 recruit in Georgia in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports composite ratings.

Florida State holds 11 verbal commitments in its 2026 class which ranks No. 32 in the country. The Seminoles previously landed three-star offensive tackle Xavier Payne and three-star interior offensive lineman Michael Ionata.

Other options on the board at offensive tackle include four-star Samuel Roseborough, three-star Aaron Thomas, three-star Da'Ron Parks, three-star Javeion Cooper, and three-star Ben Mubenga.