Does Jeff Bowden Departure Help FSU Recruiting?

So far with the '07 class, things have been slow for FSU who has only nine commitments. The negativity surrounding the offensive struggles may have been hurting the Seminoles on the recruiting front. Prospects could have been concerned about being able to win at Florida State with a struggling offense, and there was not much appealing to offensive recruits.

Now, Florida State can sell a new beginning, and they have the talent to quickly get things turned around. They may be having a slow year, but they usually finish strong in recruiting and are still in the hunt for some big time prospects.

It will be a little harder for opposing recruiters to knock the Florida State offense to prospects, and the Seminoles can pitch brighter days ahead. This move could help in keeping committed receiver Ahmad Paige (Monroe, La./Sterlington), who is taking visits. It could also help with a player like running back Noel Devine (North Fort Myers, Fla.), as it would be hard to recruit a talent like him to a place struggling to run the ball. Now with a new coordinator, it could look like a better situation to a player like him.

It could also help with local talent Brandon Paul, who attends Lincoln High, and with defensive prospects like No. 1-ranked defensive tackle Marvin Austin (Washington, D.C./ Ballou) and defensive tackle Joseph Barksdale (Detroit/Cass Tech).

Whether this move helps the Florida State offense remains to be seen, but according to ESPN "from a recruiting standpoint, it has to be looked at as a positive as it lifts a cloud of negativity from the program."