Everyone surrounding the Florida State program has been excited the last few weeks with their recruiting surge in the 2026 class. However, none of it mattered if they didn’t land a quarterback. After a few misses, four-star Jaden O’Neal became the top option.
O’Neal committed to the Oklahoma Sooners last June, just two weeks after attending a camp in Tallahassee. O’Neal came back to campus in April, and things started to heat up with the Seminoles’ pursuit of him. When FSU hosted O’Neal two weeks ago, that’s when the possibility of O’Neal joining FSU got more intense, which he explained at the Rivals Five Star Camp.
“The visit of course, but what kind of struck me was just how they treated me during the unofficial. I feel like that’s what kinda started to turn my mind and just have a lot of interest for a program for Florida State.”
The Seminoles will have a new philosophy offensively in 2025 under offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. He produced the No. 8 offense in the nation at UCF in 2023, and they were No. 16 last season. Malzahn has also had good offenses during his time with the Auburn Tigers and even at Tulsa.
When it comes to a quarterback and his offensive coordinator, it’s all about being aligned in all aspects. O’Neal feels like playing under Malzahn was ultimately the best decision for him.
“Just the fit. I saw myself being in an offense, I felt like Coach Gus, just the offense he runs. He runs a vertical option, which is a lot of what I run now in high school, so just having the similarities and being able to contrast that I’m able to run a vertical option in high school and transition for college.”
O’Neal stayed committed to Oklahoma despite there being a lack of communication at the tail end, according to him. Plus, four-star quarterback Bowe Bentley was being projected to the Sooners quite a bit, and it eventually happened two days before O’Neal decommitted.
That certainly isn’t the easiest thing to deal with. For O’Neal, though, he’s glad that he gets to move forward and start his journey with Florida State.
“Yes sir, I’m excited. It’s like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Definitely a blessing.”
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Elite QB commit explains why he chose FSU
Reporting by Matthew Lenix , FSU Wire / FSU Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
