Four-star DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) safety Nick Cross has flipped his commitment from FSU and has signed with Maryland.
He was the second highest ranked recruit in FSU’s 2019 class. Losing him from the class is a major blow to the Seminoles despite FSU signing six other defensive backs.
He was expected to have an instant impact in the secondary if he had been able to sign with the Seminoles.
Cross didn’t sign on National Signing Day due to his parents wanting him to attend Penn State. Cross wanted to attend FSU.
It took six days for the family to come to the decision to compromise on in-state Maryland.
He originally committed to FSU on Sept. 3, 2018 over offers from more than 35 other programs including Alabama, Auburn, Penn State, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame.
It came down to four teams. The Seminoles had to battle PSU, Maryland, and UGA down to the wire.
Cross took an unofficial to UGA and an official visit to PSU over the final week of the recruiting process. Cross’ father was pushing him to sign with PSU.
He took an unofficial visit to Maryland two weeks before NSD. He didn’t visit FSU over the final three months of his recruitment. His FSU official visit came in June.
Maryland coach Mike Locksley was recruiting Cross when he was at Alabama and brought the relationship that he had built with the talented safety prospect there when he was hired on in January.
Locksley also hired Cross’ high school head coach Elijah Brooks as his running backs coach at Maryland.
He attended The Opening Finals and was a standout performer in the All-American Bowl.
He is also one of the fastest college football players in the country. He specialized in the 60-meter dash and has a career-best 6.81.
Cross, 6-foot, 205 pounds, is ranked as the No. 4 safety and the No. 55 overall prospect in the 2019 class per the 247Sports composite rankings.
His decommitment drops FSU’s class from No. 16 to No. 18 where it will finish as the worst class FSU has signed since 2007.
The Seminoles finish the class with 21 signees.
