FSU Commitment Analysis: Jaiden Woodbey and Isaiah Bolden

The days are ticking down until National Signing Day and Florida State is hoping for a big finish. As of Saturday morning, new head coach Willie Taggart had FSU sitting at No. 15 in the 247Sports Composite rankings after it fell as low as No. 64 in late December.

With somewhere in the vicinity of 20 signees expected for 2018, we’ve been breaking down each current commitment and what they bring to the table. The newest installment will feature a pair of members of the secondary who have already signed.

Our latest edition takes a look at Jaiden Woodbey, a safety who was recently downgraded by the Composite from a 5-star to a 4-star prospect and Isaiah Bolden, a 4-star cornerback.

Jaiden Woodbey, S

A longtime Ohio State commitment, safety Jaiden Woodbey committed and signed with his “dream school” just days after receiving an offer. A 6-foot-2, 205-pound safety from California, Woodbey is listed as the No. 35 overall prospect for 2018 and the fourth best safety. Woodbey committed to the Seminoles on Dec. 20.

What he brings: At 205 pounds and with a body that is still developing, Woodbey is a physical specimen. He’s a strong young man and a big hitter with a high football IQ. Woodbey diagnoses plays well, uses his size well and is a sure tackler. Woodbey’s tackling ability is most evident when watching him make plays out in the open field.

Woodbey was solid as a blitzer as well throughout his high school career and should have some opportunities to do that at FSU. Woodbey does an excellent job with over-the-top duties, but if there is one question mark, it’s how he might perform in man coverage. Also worth mentioning is Woodbey’s high motor as he never seems to quit on a play.

How he fits: Enrolling early should only enhance Woodbey’s chances of playing right away. The Seminoles have a decent slate of safeties with veterans Calvin Brewton and A.J. Westbrook and youngsters Hamsah Nasirildeen and Cyrus Fagan, but Woodbey may have the most raw talent out of all of them. If defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett is willing to play a lot of bodies, Woodbey will almost certainly be in the mix in 2018.

Expecting Woodbey to be an instant starter in 2018 might be a bit much, but that’s a real possibility come 2019 and the years after. Woodbey’s traits suggest that he may be best-served to play strong safety, but his ability to make plays over the top will make him an option at either of the safety positions.

Isaiah Bolden, CB

Isaiah Bolden played musical commitments for much of his recruiting process. After initially committing to FSU, Bolden flipped to Oregon, where Taggart was coaching. He flipped back and signed during the early signing period in December, once Taggart had been hired as the head coach at FSU. Bolden is listed as the No. 231 overall prospect for 2018.

What he brings: What jumps off the charts when reviewing Bolden’s film is his physicality. It’s rare for a cornerback, but Bolden seems to like tackling. Bolden is excellent in run support and could actually be a candidate to play some safety at the college level.

Bolden is a good athlete and while not a blazer, is deceptively shifty and agile. Bolden likely won’t get many opportunities as a returner at FSU, but he does look comfortable with the football in his hands. Bolden doesn’t quit on plays, but he has a lot of work to do to become a lockdown corner. For being such a highly-sought recruit, his ball skills do not jump off the charts.

How he fits: With Florida State deep at cornerback, Bolden is a candidate for a redshirt. The Seminoles will likely play a number of bodies on the outside with Levonta Taylor and Stanford Samuels the early projected starters. Others who could see time include Carlos Becker, Kyle Meyers and Bolden’s fellow freshmen Asante Samuel, Jr., Anthony Lytton and redshirt freshman Ontaria Wilson.

Bolden’s biggest competition to see the field coming into the fall looks to be Samuel and Lytton, but both of them appear to be more ready to play right away. A redshirt isn’t a guarantee for Bolden, but if he’s used, it will likely come in mop-up duty or on special teams. Expect Bolden’s role to get a little bigger come 2019 and for him to be a major factor for the FSU defense as early as 2020.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson