Mike Norvell walked into Macon, Georgia, and walked out with one of the Peach State’s top defensive backs. Four-star safety Ta’Shawn Poole announced his commitment to Florida State on Tuesday, choosing the Seminoles over finalists Georgia and Tennessee in a recruitment that came down to the final official visit.
Poole, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound standout at Howard High School in Macon, is ranked No. 75 in the Rivals Industry Ranking. He entered the summer with Florida State carrying momentum after his official visit to Tallahassee — and that trip ultimately sealed it.
“On that official visit, about two days after that visit, I really started to feel like Florida State was the one,” Poole told Rivals. “Georgia really came on, and Tennessee was always up there, but after going back and forth, I knew the school.”
Georgia hosted Poole for his final official visit and made a serious late push. Tennessee stayed in contention throughout. Neither could overcome what Poole felt in Tallahassee.
“They got close,” Poole said of the Bulldogs. “Tennessee did too. The feeling about Florida State was the strongest. I feel great about my commitment to Florida State.”
The decision hinged on culture, tradition, and relationships — particularly with Norvell, who personally flew from Tallahassee to Macon to visit Poole and stayed in constant contact throughout the process.
“He flew up here from Tallahassee to see me, he wanted me and he recruited me hard,” Poole said. “We’ve been on the phone a lot, FaceTiming and talking about things behind the scenes. He closed the deal for me. Coach Norvell made a big difference.”
Poole’s aunt is a Florida State alumna, a connection he acknowledged was not a primary factor but one that added to the comfort level. “The culture, the tradition and the relationships I have with all the coaches,” Poole said. “My connections with the coaches at Florida State were different.”
The 247Sports scouting report paints the picture of a versatile defensive back with legitimate NFL upside. Evaluators note Poole’s alignment flexibility — he can line up over the slot, in the box, or as a split-safety — and a +6 wingspan at roughly 6-foot-1.5 and 190 pounds. He held his own in one-on-one coverage at the 2026 Under Armour All-America Game and flashed playmaking instincts at the catch point honed during time at wide receiver. His 2023 stat line: 43 tackles, two pass breakups, and four interceptions.
Scouts did flag areas for growth. Poole plays with what evaluators called “violent conviction,” which can produce poor pursuit angles, and he needs to improve block evasion and destruction in the run game. The jump in play speed from the prep level to Power Four competition will be steep.
Still, the profile is that of a multi-year starter for a College Football Playoff contender — and Poole is set to become the first prospect from Howard High School, established in 2008, to sign at the Power Four level.
For Florida State, the commitment represents a significant recruiting win on two fronts: landing a top-100 national prospect and pulling him out of Georgia’s own backyard, where Kirby Smart’s program has historically been a fortress. Norvell’s willingness to invest personal time — the in-home visit, the FaceTime calls, the behind-the-scenes conversations — proved to be the differentiator over two programs that pushed hard down the stretch.
Poole is the latest addition to a 2027 Florida State class that is beginning to take shape, with the Seminoles now holding multiple safety commits in the cycle.
Sources:
- Yahoo Sports / Rivals — 4-star safety Ta’Shawn Poole commits to Florida State over Georgia and Tennessee
- 247Sports — Ta’Shawn Poole Player Profile & Scouting Report
- r/CFB — Recruiting Post