FSU football recruiting: Virginia transfer Fentrell Cypress commits
Mike Norvell and his coaching staff have developed an excellent national reputation for evaluating and recruiting talented players from the transfer portal. That reputation was further cemented today, as Florida State secured the commitment of perhaps the best defensive player at the Portal, Virginia Cavaliers cornerback Fentrell Cypress.
“It’s another fantastic addition to our program,” said head coach Mike Norvell. “Fentrell is a great player who possesses the unique combination of length and athleticism. He has a huge upside and brings a proven track record of consistent play in our defensive backfield. He has amassed incredible experience at the college level while proving himself to be an intelligent and disciplined player whose success has been demonstrated on the field, in the classroom and in the community.Fentrell is a perfect fit for the Nole family as we continue our ascent forward.
Cypress, who is 6’0″, 185 pounds, is coming off a stellar season in which he led the ACC with 14 misses, had 39 tackles and earned All-ACC honors. Cypress hails from Rock Hill, South Carolina, the home of former Seminole defensive back Chris Hope.
Cypress is giving the state of Florida something it has sorely lacked in recent years: a safe haven that can be trusted to operate on an island. He’s likely a unique player with a future in the NFL, and FSU defensive coordinator Adam Fuller led the charge to bring him to Tallahassee.
Make no mistake, the Cypress touchdown is the biggest statement Florida State has made in the transfer portal this offseason (and that’s saying something). The Seminoles are banking on Cypress’s leadership, experience, work ethic and talent to elevate a defensive field that needs a spark with the departure of Jammie Robinson.
From his FSU bio:
Fentrell Cypress II | comics | 6-0 | 185 | Rock Hill, South Carolina | Northwestern High School/Virginia
Ranked #2 overall in On3 Transfer Ratings and #4 overall in Transfer Portal by 247Sports… appeared in 18 games with 15 starts in four seasons at Virginia… totaled 57 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one interception, 14 pass breakups and one fumble recovery… First-team All-ACC performer by Pro Football Focus and Associated Press All-Conference Second-Team selection in 2022…led the nation with an average of 1.6 pass breakups per game…ranked first in the ACC and ninth nationally with 14 total pass breakups…started all nine games he appeared in and recorded 39 tackles and a fumble recovery in addition to his pass breakups…started all six games he played in 2021 and recorded 16 tackles, including 0.5 sacks and an interception…made his first collegiate interception in North Carolina and returned it 66 yards for a touchdown … made two tackles at Wake Forest in his lone appearance in the 2020 season…named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll…played in two redshirt games in 2019…made his collegiate debut in a 28-17 win over Old Dominion and also saw action in the 48-14 win over Duke…played offense and defense at Northwestern…selected for 2018 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas…recorded 31 tackles, two interceptions and 24 breakups assists while leading the Trojans to the second round of the AAAAA state playoffs his senior year … had 48 tackles and four interceptions while being credited with 35 pass breakups his junior season, helping Northwestern advance to second round of state playoffs… also ran the track and won the regional title in the 100 meters.