The notion of Florida State across the nation and even within the state is shifting at a speedy tempo. Simply ask rising senior and legacy four-star large receiver dedication Camdon Frier.
After committing to the Seminoles final January, Frier’s abilities had been acknowledged on the nationwide stage when Alabama prolonged him a suggestion over the summer time. On the time, individuals round his space and even a few of his highschool teammates had been questioning why he caught along with his pledge to Florida State.
Following a ten win marketing campaign that noticed FSU win the Cheez-It Bowl and defeat each of its major rivals for the primary time since 2016, the imaginative and prescient in Tallahassee is starting to turn out to be clear. It is one thing that Frier foresaw over a yr in the past.
“Individuals would say this like a yr in the past once I dedicated, ‘Florida State? I do know your daddy went there however Florida State?’ and I am similar to ‘I do not care. They will do one thing this yr, simply watch’ even some Florida State followers weren’t so certain,” Frier mentioned to NoleGameday’s Dustin Lewis. “They had been glad I dedicated there however weren’t so certain. Firstly of the season, I had that Alabama provide and folks had been like, ‘oh, Bama, Bama’ I’ve most likely received two or three teammates at Columbia proper now which might be telling me they need to go to Florida State so unhealthy.”
“Round right here, to me, individuals have modified their thought of Florida State, one thing that I’ve recognized for a yr now,” Frier continued. “It does validate my choice of committing, it makes it really feel a complete lot extra sturdy. I do not need to be a kind of guys that flips and all these things. I will do what’s finest for me however on the identical time, they’re [FSU] making it seem to be that is what’s finest for me.”
Over the offseason, Frier determined to switch from Suwannee Excessive College to Columbia Excessive College. The transfer put him again in a well-recognized spot as he was capable of workforce up alongside guys that he grew up taking part in with previous to starting his prep profession.
Regardless of some inconsistency along with his touches, it ended up being a productive junior yr for Frier. He caught 27 passes for 538 yards and 5 touchdowns because the Tigers compiled a 9-4 document and superior to the FHSAA state semifinals.
“I really feel like once I received the ball in my fingers, it went pretty effectively. I am not going to lie, I am somewhat dissatisfied with what number of touches I received this season. I will have get with coaches about that however once I received the ball, I nonetheless assume I had essentially the most receiving yards within the space,” Frier mentioned. “You understand, I most likely did not have any extra catches than I did the final two years however I had nearly double the yards. I really feel like this season was good, it was the farthest I’ve ever went within the playoffs in order that was enjoyable. I actually loved it as a result of I grew up with all these guys as a result of I went to Columbia all the best way till the beginning of my highschool profession. I realized so much, I did be taught so much throughout follow in comparison with my final two seasons. I had different receivers, we train one another, we assist one another out. If one has a flaw, we assist one another out. I did not have that earlier than. Having a pair different receivers over right here made it completely different.”
Coming into the ultimate offseason of his highschool profession, there are a few facets of his recreation that Frier needs to wash up over the following few months. Most of what he needs to work on comes all the way down to how he’ll function after he is already caught a go.
“Most likely many of the issues that I will work on is after I caught the ball, simply form of chopping. I broke a pair tackles this yr, I felt somewhat stronger this yr than years earlier than however I am getting older, persons are graduating and stuff, in order that’s the way it must be,” Frier mentioned. “It wasn’t horrible however I really feel like I can most likely make somewhat bit of higher cuts. There was most likely two deep balls this yr that I dropped and it made me so mad. Most likely my weakest level was simply ending, I feel it was two balls which might be most likely touchdowns if I caught them, 50-60 yard touchdowns. You understand, I did not see an actual factor within the recreation however all my teammates would inform ‘man, in the event you can simply hit that one step minimize’ so I will most likely be engaged on that this yr.”
All through the course of his recruitment, Frier has developed robust relationships with head coach Mike Norvell, large receivers coach Ron Dugans, offensive coordinator Alex Atkins, and defensive ends coach John Papuchis. He says your complete employees is outgoing and treats him like household, one thing that he hasn’t skilled from each program that’s vying for him.
“I most likely talk with Norvell and Dugans essentially the most. However once I get there, I am unable to discuss to sufficient individuals. Once I get there in particular person, speaking to everyone, it is like the entire employees, protection, offense, everybody treats you want household,” Frier mentioned. “It does not matter in the event you’re a receiver, you’ve got received the defensive backs coach, the defensive position coach. And never all faculties are like that, different faculties which have supplied me, I do not know their employees as effectively. Sure, I’m dedicated right here so I ought to know the employees extra however they’re being outgoing to me. Earlier than I dedicated, the defensive employees was outgoing to me. My relationship with them has grown effectively, it is a a lot better connection than it was then [before he committed].”
Previous to the start of the season, Dugans was receiving loads of criticism from the media and fanbase after struggles to recruit and develop large receivers over the past couple of years. He promptly made everybody insert foot in mouth after guiding switch large receiver Johnny Wilson to a breakout season whereas touchdown five-star prospect Hykeem Williams within the 2023 class.
Frier was joyful to see Dugans show everybody improper and cement his place with the Seminoles.
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“I did see that stuff and I used to be like ‘dang, I actually like coach Dugans’ so I used to be actually hoping that he did precisely what he did this season. We had switch portal guys are available in, they balled out,” Frier mentioned. “Each time we go up there, we go within the receivers room, he exhibits us what he is been engaged on with the fellows. That is one other factor, I am seeing that Florida State’s receivers are rising. The receivers had an ideal yr in comparison with what individuals thought they’d have with coach Dugans. We have got five-star Hykeem Williams, we have Goldie, and Dre [coming in]. He is working onerous and it is paying off and I am glad individuals at the moment are seeing the coach that he’s.”
The calendar only recently flipped to the brand new yr however Florida State is already off to a quick begin in its 2024 class. The Seminoles maintain eight verbal commitments which ranks No. 4 within the nation in accordance with 247Sports. Frier believes that is the beginning of one thing particular for #Tribe24.
“Our aim is to be No. 1 however that is everybody’s aim. I really feel like we are able to get a pair extra flips. I do know we will get extra commitments, we will get the proper guys we want as a result of everybody that we received, they’re ballers,” Frier mentioned. “Our coaches are getting the proper guys, they are not simply getting anybody and that is what I am loving. It is one thing particular and even guys which might be dedicated different locations, I really feel like we are able to get some flips. This appears like a household and you aren’t getting that in every single place.”
The Florida native is already constructing a rapport with four-star quarterback dedication Luke Kromenhoek. The 2 are starting to develop shut on and off the sphere, to the purpose the place they’re speaking about rooming collectively at Florida State. Outdoors of that, he is engaged on bonding with the opposite members of the category.
“Me and Luke, we’re fairly tight as of proper now. If we go up there on the identical time, we’re planning on rooming collectively. I do not know if it should occur however we hunt so much they usually do not, so we’re planning on taking them on a looking journey,” Frier mentioned. “We have got a bunch chat so when individuals had been profitable their playoff video games and stuff like that, we would congratulate them. I assume it is that quarterback-receiver bond as I am actual tight with Luke proper now. Kam performs baseball, me and him have talked a time or two about stuff like that via our visits collectively. I am excited to get to know everybody.”
The chemistry between a quarterback and large receiver is paramount in terms of having success between the traces. Frier appears like he and Kromenhoek might be a step forward as soon as they arrive in Tallahassee.
“I really feel prefer it’ll put us a step forward as freshmen,” Frier mentioned. “We’ll skip a step of getting to bond. I really feel like, as soon as you’ve got already received that bond to a sure extent, we are able to play somewhat looser, we are able to talk higher. Skipping that step is de facto going to assist us going into at any time when we get there and goes to assist us begin off higher.”
It has been practically a yr since Frier dedicated to Florida State. Outdoors of his household ties to the Seminoles via his father (Matt Frier) and uncle (Todd Frier), there are a few completely different causes that he is stayed locked in for this lengthy.
“I really feel like I am already there. I textual content both coach Atkins, coach Dugans, coach Norvell, coach JP, nearly each single day. There’s not a full week that goes by that I am not speaking with considered one of them,” Frier mentioned. “They at all times maintain me up to date on every little thing that is occurring. Me and coach Dugans, coach Norvell, we discipleship with one another. The couple instances that I’ve gone up there, it appears like house. They only deal with me like household. Watching the season, I am actually loving what the offense is doing. My dad, he says he do not care the place however I’m going however you’ll be able to form of inform that he needs me to go to Florida State. He is like, ‘Camdon, take a look at that, look what Norvell’s doing, take a look at that play-call’ and I am agreeing with him. We went to the bowl recreation and we most likely mentioned that like 5 or 6 instances.”
Ideally, being recruited by faculty packages is one thing that Frier will solely expertise as soon as in his life. He is making an attempt to take advantage of the chance whereas it is in entrance of him. Regardless, he’ll be a mainstay in Tallahassee in the course of the offseason and says Florida State is house.
“I am undecided if I will go to different faculties. But when I do, it is just one or two. And it is largely, I’ve advised coach this, you solely get to be recruited as soon as, you solely get recruited as soon as in your life,” Frier mentioned. “It is enjoyable nevertheless it’s completely different once you go to Tallahassee and that is why it should be my house. If I do go someplace, that’ll be the rationale so Florida State coaches and followers should not be nervous.”
The 6-foot, 175-pound large receiver is thought to be the No. 293 general prospect, the No. 42 WR, and the No. 45 recruit within the state of Florida within the 2024 class in accordance with 247Sports.
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