The Daily Nole

FSU Commitment Analysis: Anthony Grant and Malcolm Lamar

Mitch White/FSU athletics

When it comes to football recruiting, the focus has mostly shifted to 2019. Florida State head coach Willie Taggart recently hosted his first Junior Day, which did merit a 2020 commitment.

While the focus is forward, we’re not done examining Taggart’s first class at FSU. His group ranked 11th, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, after adding and signing five commitments on National Signing Day.

In this piece, we’ll be looking at the first two of those commitments. Those are running back Anthony Grant and defensive end Malcolm Lamar.

Anthony Grant, RB

A Tennessee commitment up until National Signing Day, Anthony Grant made the flip from Knoxville to Tallahassee. The only running back to sign with the Seminoles, Grant is listed by the Composite as the 403rd best player in the country and the 17th best running back. At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Grant was a 3-star prospect out of Buford, Georgia.

What he brings: Anthony Grant is a bruising, physical runner who looks to punish defenders standing in his way. Grant is strong, has a high motor and shows good initial burst.

Although not a burner, Grant accelerates well and made plenty of big runs during his high school career. For the most part, Grant makes one cut and gets up field. He doesn’t spend much time dancing or trying to bounce things outside. He has decent hands, but how he’ll perform as a pass protector is currently unknown.

How he fits: Unfortunately for Grant, he plays a position that is currently loaded. The Seminoles will at the very least have two more years of Cam Akers being the feature back. Jacques Patrick, a senior for 2018, will likely be the No. 2 with former blue-chips Khalan Laborn and Zaquandre White also being very talented.

The good news for Grant is that Taggart is willing to use more than two backs. If he’s willing to bide his time, Grant could be a rotational piece by 2020 and maybe a major piece by 2021. Grant is also a candidate to switch positions. On the defensive side of the ball, he could bulk up to play either linebacker or safety. He’s certainly physical enough.

Malcolm Lamar, DE

The second commitment from Armwood High School in Seffner, where FSU had little success in the past, Malcolm Lamar sent in his letter of intent on National Signing Day before making his formal announcement. A big defensive end, listed at 6-5 and 250 pounds, Lamar is ranked by the Composite as the No. 222 overall prospect for 2018 and the ninth best strongside defensive end.

What he brings: Lamar plays with a high motor, but has great awareness and is very instinctive. Lamar gets off the ball quickly, is relentless in pursuit and plays until the whistle. With a large frame, Lamar is a very good athlete with a knack for making plays.

Lamar is strong, uses his length well and also does a good job setting the edge. The one area where he needs work looks to be the same area where a lot of big linemen struggle and that’s inconsistency with leverage. Lamar was able to use his strength to bulldoze opponents in high school, but must remember to stay low as a collegiate.

How he fits: Although Florida State looks to be in good shape with Brian Burns and Joshua Kaindoh on the edges, the need for depth at the position could push Malcolm Lamar onto the field in 2018. With Josh Sweat and Jalen Wilkerson each declaring early for the NFL Draft, Lamar could see himself as a significant contributor on the defensive side of the ball.

Lamar’s push for reps will likely come against the likes of redshirt sophomore Janarius Robinson and redshirt freshman Tre Lawson. Fellow freshmen Dennis Briggs and Jamarcus Chatman could push Lamar for reps, but both of those players are likely to play inside as defensive tackles. Expect Lamar to play early for the Seminoles.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Also, be sure to “Like” The Daily Nole on Facebook.

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