Florida State takes 4-Star Newberry DT Cory Durden off the Recruiting Trail

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Junior Day events across the country typically produces results. For Florida State on Saturday, the Seminoles got one of the more highly coveted defensive tackles in the nation when Cory Durden verbally committed.

The win for FSU was big coming one week ahead of the Newberry High School star’s visit to Tuscaloosa for Alabama’s Junior Day. Durden has offers from Florida, Georgia, Miami, Oregon State, Kentucky, Central Florida, Utah, and Oklahoma totaling 14 reported offers in all.

The 6-4, 305 pound, Durden did a little bit of everything for the Panthers last year including taking one handoff 18 yards. The big man shined on the defensive front coming up with 47 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, forced four fumbles, recovered a fumble, and even blocked a field goal in 10 games played.

Durden made his commitment official on Twitter posting, “Blessed to announce my commitment to FSU it’s a dream come true #Tribe 17.”

Durden will join fellow 2017 FSU commit and Newberry defensive tackle teammate Ja’len Parks in Tuscaloosa. Parks, 6-3, 279, had 46 tackles and nine tackles for a loss during his junior season.

The Seminoles already have a stacked foundation to their 2017 recruiting class with six players total and five of the six being rated as 4-star recruits.

Florida State Seminoles 2017 Verbal Commitment List

LB Vandarius Cowan, 6-4, 215, Palm Beach Gardens HS, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

LB Bradley Jennings Jr., 6-2, 220, Sandalwood HS, Jacksonville, FL

DT Cory Durden, 6-4, 287, Newberry HS, Newberry, FL

DT Ja’len Parks, 6-3, 279, Newberry HS, Newberry, FL

RB Zaquandre White, 5-11, 203, North Fort Myers HS, North Fort Myers, FL

WR D.J. Matthews, 6-1, 175, Trinity Christian HS, Jacksonville, FL

 

Photo credit: twitter.com; Durden right with FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher (center) and teammate Ja’len Parks.