Florida State got a recruiting win on Thursday afternoon when they secured a verbal commitment from Karon Maycock, a three-star linebacker from the class of 2026. Maycock, a standout athlete from Miami Central High School in Miami, Florida, chose Florida State over a competitive list of offers from programs including in-state rival Miami (who was the favorite to land Maycock per 247), Alabama, Penn State, and several other Power 4 schools.
Maycock, standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 200 pounds, brings versatility and explosiveness to the Seminoles’ defense. While some programs recruited him as a safety, Florida State envisions him at the nickel linebacker position due to his ability to play inside and cover—a position where his physicality and skill set align perfectly with the team’s defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator Tony White and linebackers coach John Papuchis. He plays both positions in powerhouse Miami Central’s defense.
His junior season stats underscore his potential: 62 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, and three pass deflections in only eight games. These numbers highlight his ability to disrupt opposing offenses and make plays in multiple facets of the game. Maycock is a physical, downhill type of player who is athletic and versatile. Although he is only considered a blue-chip by Rivals, this is a solid pickup by FSU.
The Seminoles extended one of Maycock’s earliest scholarship offers back in 2023, and their consistent engagement paid off. Maycock has spoken highly of the program, describing it as feeling “like home” and praising the energy and personal investment from Norvell and his staff. This connection, coupled with an official visit already scheduled for June 20-22, 2025, solidified FSU’s position as the frontrunner landing them Maycock’s commitment early in the cycle.
Ranked as a four-star prospect by some recruiting services and a three-star by others, Maycock’s stock continues to rise. According to the 247Sports Composite, he is the No. 571 overall prospect, No. 43 linebacker, and No. 86 recruit in Florida for the 2026 class. On3’s industry rankings list him as the No. 567 overall player and No. 54 safety, reflecting his positional versatility.
Regardless of the exact ranking, his commitment helps elevate Florida State’s 2026 class, which now includes seven commits and climbs to No. 11 nationally and No. 1 in the ACC, per 247Sports. Maycock himself expressed confidence in his fit with the Seminoles, reportedly telling reporters, “Y’all got a great one coming. Win or lose, we’re still gonna put that work in and play our best.”
As the 2026 cycle progresses, Maycock’s commitment underscores Florida State’s emphasis on locking down top in-state talent—every commit in this class hails from the Sunshine State. He still has an official visit set for this summer with both Florida State and Miami. It’s unclear whether the Miami visit will still happen after his commitment, but regardless, FSU will have to do its best to hold onto the versatile South Florida recruit.
With his blend of athleticism, speed, and playmaking ability, Karon Maycock represents a promising addition to FSU’s linebacker corps and a step toward building a championship-caliber defense in Tallahassee under Tony White.
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