Eddie Goldman part of strong FSU class

Updated: February 2, 2012, 11:07 AM ET
ESPN.com news services

Florida State's coaching staff celebrated its assembly of another formidable recruiting class, and top-rated wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham committed to playing in his home state of Missouri in the early hours of national signing day Wednesday.

The Seminoles, considered by ESPNU recruiting analysts as having the third-best class at the start of the day, were bumped to No. 2 on the board, past Texas and below Alabama, after defensive tackle Eddie Goldman announced his commitment to FSU.

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Goldman, the top-rated prospect at his position and No. 10 in the ESPNU 150, joined the Seminoles' class along with defensive end Mario Edwards, the No. 1 overall prospect in the ESPNU 150. Edwards and 6-foot-4 quarterback Jameis Winston (No. 14 in the ESPNU 150) committed early in the process.

"It was where I want to be," Goldman said in an interview with ESPN. "If I would have went anywhere else, I wouldn't have been happy."

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Goldman, of Washington, D.C., also was considering Alabama, Auburn and Miami. Watching the ESPNU broadcast from Tallahassee, Florida State's staff erupted with glee when the five-star Under Armour All-American said he would be a Seminole.

"I knew we were in it the whole time," said coach Jimbo Fisher, who was widely considered to have the top-rated recruiting class of 2011.

Said Goldman: "It was pretty close. I thought I was going to Alabama ... I thought about it hard."

The Rich Get Richer

AlabamaAlabama reeled in the top recruiting class for 2012 on Wednesday, as 13 prospects in the ESPNU 150 committed to the defending national champions.

Top Recruiting Classes for 2012
Top-ranked Prospects and Total Commits

School ESPNU 150 Commits
Alabama 13 26
Florida St. 10 19
Texas 12 28
Florida 9 23
Georgia 6 19

Missouri landed a significant player in 6-foot-6 Green-Beckham of Springfield, Mo., the top-rated wide receiver and No. 3 overall on the ESPNU 150. He chose the Tigers over Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas after breaking the national career receiving record with 6,353 yards. Green-Beckham caught 300 passes and scored 75 touchdowns for his career at Hillcrest High.

Josh Harvey-Clemons, the top-rated outside linebacker in the ESPNU 150, also will play in his home state after committing to Georgia.

Harvey-Clemons (Valdosta/Lowndes) chose Georgia over Florida, FSU and Miami. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound prospect told ESPN.com's DawgNation that although his family preferred Florida because Gainesville is closer to Valdosta, he had his mind made up to play for the Bulldogs.

Twenty-three hours after signing, Harvey-Clemons finally submitted his letter of intent to the university Thursday morning, according to Lowndes coach Terry Quinn.

Georgia "felt like home," Harvey-Clemons said during ESPNU's signing-day telecast. "[The Bulldogs] seem like they want to win and contend for a [national] championship."

Said Georgia coach Mark Richt: "We're just so excited. What a great player and a tremendous kid. ... And he's so versatile ... a heck of a receiver, too."

Tracy Howard, a defensive back from Miramar, Fla., and No. 1 at the position in the ESPNU 150, committed to Miami. He also considered Florida and Florida State.

Howard said he knew for quite some time where he wanted to play.

"Why not win in my hometown and my city?" he said.

In other signings:

Andrus Peat, the second-rated offensive tackle and ninth overall in the ESPNU 150, committed to Stanford. Peat, of Tempe, Ariz., chose the Cardinal over Florida State, Nebraska and USC.

Outside linebacker Kwon Alexander, 29th in the ESPNU 150 and rated third at his position, committed to LSU. Alexander, of Oxford, Ala., strongly considered Alabama and Auburn.

Trae Elston of Austin, Texas, the 10th-rated safety, committed to Mississippi.

Four-star Under Armour All-American receiver Thomas Johnson (No. 33 in ESPNU 150 out of Dallas/Skyline) committed to Texas A&M.

Gunner Kiel, a highly rated quarterback from Indiana, has already enrolled at Notre Dame. Kiel verbally committed to Indiana and LSU before changing his mind.

There were changes of heart as well Wednesday.

Miami lost out on outside linebacker Reggie Northrup (Jacksonville/First Coast), who decommitted and signed with Florida State; and receiver Bralon Addison (Missouri City, Texas/Hightower) decommitted from Texas A&M and signed with Oregon.

Information from Kipp Adams of ESPN DawgNation and The Associated Press was included in this report.

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