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When it comes to recruiting offensive linemen, you can never count out Alex Atkins. It came as a bit of a surprise when 2024 offensive tackle Manasse Itete committed to the USC Trojans just as things looked like they were headed in FSU’s direction. However, being from the west coast, fresh off an official visit and USC having a successful season last year, you could understand why.
Just shy two months later Itete announced his decommitment from the Trojans and set a commitment announcement for the following day with multiple crystal balls already pointing to Florida State. And Alex Atkins struck again, landing another Blue-Chip offensive lineman.
Florida State’s California connection, Derrick Yray, was key in Itete’s recruitment. Yray is from a town that resides less than an hour away from Modesto, where Itete lives currently. Manasse is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He is an athletic guy for his size and began his sports career as a basketball player. Itete has since decided to focus on football given the attention he received as a recruit. At 6-foot-5 295 pounds, with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and 10-inch hands, as only a Jr in high school, Itete will come in as excellent clay for Atkins to mold.
Being he’s still relatively new to American football there is some development required, but he’s the type of offensive lineman you want. Itete is viewed as a powerful, nasty type of lineman who can throw opposing defensive linemen to the ground with his pure strength. He plays aggressively and works hard to finish blocks. His athleticism allows him to move around the field well and climb to the next level.
Once Itete is given some time to combine his strength and athleticism with a more refined technique, he could very well be a multi-year starter for FSU. He will be FSU’s third offensive lineman in the 2024 class joining Jonathan Daniels and Tye Hilton. The 2024 class isn’t the highest regarded as far as being deep with talented offensive linemen, so this might be it for the Seminoles up front on offense unless they find someone else they really like.
With Itete and Charles Lester III added to the class, Tribe 24 moves deeper into the top 10 class rankings and is currently sitting atop the ACC ahead of Clemson and Miami. The Noles are hot on the trail right now heading into what should be a great season which would only add to the momentum. Florida State has been steadily increasing their talent level on the roster under this staff and 2024 is their best high school class so far. Once they develop the talented young players they are bringing in and combine it with the success they have had in the portal… well that’s just fun to think about!
Thanks for reading. Go Noles!!
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