5-star CB Charles Lester III names a leader in his recruitment
Sarasota (Fla.) Riverview five-star cornerback Charles Lester III told On3 earlier this month that he was focused on four schools: Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and Ohio State.
“That’s all I’m looking at, nobody else.”
At the time, he was coming off a visit to Georgia and preparing for one to Alabama, which he took last week. While each of the four programs remain in contention and will receive an official visit, one has taken a lead above the rest in his recruitment.
“I would say Florida State is the leader right now in this process for me,” Lester said. “If I had to choose today, I would go there. That’s the first time I’ve told anybody that. … To be honest, Florida State is my No. 1 school right now.”
The Seminoles are the closest school to home for Lester, and he grew up watching the program as a childhood fan. Some of his favorite players donned the Garnet and Gold, and the opportunity to do the same isn’t something he takes lightly.
“It would mean the world to me,” he said of a potential commitment to the Seminoles. “I know there are many great programs out there, but to be able to play for FSU, it would mean more to me than any other school because of my pride and connection is great. I’m a childhood fan of the Seminoles, and there’s something about that place I feel home, and it’s special. There’s a lot of history to be made at FSU.”
Alabama continues to showcase its elite development
Other schools are far from bowing out, though. His trip to Alabama — which was the second school to offer him — showed him what has made the Crimson Tide college football’s best program in the past 15 years.
“At ‘Bama, it was another great experience,” Lester said. “Being able to get my first chance to see practice, do what they do behind closed doors. Just sticking around the cornerback group and watching Coach T-Rob and Coach Saban coach those athletes, I got a feeling of what a day at Alabama would be if I were to take that opportunity.
… It’s real competitive, and the coaches are what they say they are. They’re all up on the kids, and they love ’em up too, but at the same time they push everyone to go hard. There isn’t any favoritism to the best person on the team or the least-contributing person on the team. They hold the same standard for everyone. I like the way practice was handled and the way they operate.”
Saban and Robinson harped on the development and the production their program has had recently with top defensive back recruits, and that’s very appealing to Lester.
“It’s a great opportunity. Alabama is one of the highest schools I’m looking at between these four schools,” he said. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be coached by the greatest coach in college football. At that position, I could go play for his team and be right there where he does all his work at with the cornerback position. …. Alabama has been and still is the No. 1 school for production, the No. 1 place to go learn at. They almost guarantee you a lot of improvement from when you walk in to when you walk out.”
Georgia and Ohio State offer top-notch coaching and production as well
The other two finalists, Georgia and Ohio State, offer much of the same to Charles Lester III that Alabama does. They’re two of the winningest programs in college football right now and have put elite cornerbacks like him in the league for years.
His visit to Athens a few weeks ago only reinforced what Kirby Smart is building there.
“Georgia, it’s the same thing (as Alabama),” he said. “They’re still fighting hard. It’s a winning program, too. I was just there a few weeks ago. The push and the motivation around the university for the football team is first-to-none. They are what they say they are. And being able to come back and hang around campus shows me the standard to be there and play for Coach Kirby and Georgia.
… I watched practice, it was great — physical, organized practice. I hung around with the coaches and talked to Coach Kirby and how he wants me to come to their school. He said coming to Georgia is a rare opportunity and you get to be coached by some of the best.”
Lester also had a chance to visit Ohio State at the beginning of the month. The Buckeyes continue to be a factor and will get his second official visit in June.
“It was just a bonding experience. And I was getting to know more people at Ohio State than the other schools because it was only my second time up there,” he said. “I got a feel for the university more. I talked to Coach Ryan Day, talked to Coach Walton, seeing what I do and don’t like. Ohio State is another one of those schools where the competitiveness is the same, if not better. They have a history of producing great cornerbacks, and Coach Walton has had his hands on a few great cornerbacks.”
Decision expected in December for Charles Lester III
While he put the Seminoles on top, Lester doesn’t have plans to commit any time soon. He believes he’ll wait until December during the Early Signing Period to make it official with whatever program he chooses. The appeal of staying close to home is strong. But he says that he has to take other things into consideration, too.
“I’m just taking my time to see what’s going to be the best opportunity for me,” he added. “A lot has to do with me being close to FSU, but it can’t just be about that. I have to take my time to figure out what is the best situation and opportunity for me.”
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