Bartow linebacker Freddie Stevenson has made it official, he'll be a Florida State Seminole in 2013.
Stevenson committed to the 'Noles, Wednesday, he announced over twitter: “Itz official I'm a FSU commit #tomahawknation". After a morning phone call to FSU coaches, he knew what was in his heart.
"I actually talked with Coach (Greg) Hudson the linebackers coach earlier today just to chat,” Stevenson told Rivals.com. “Then I decided later this afternoon that I didn't want to wait any longer. So I called Coach (Jimbo) Fisher up and told him I'm ready to be a Seminole. He was super excited screaming in the phone.”
Stevenson, a four-star linebacker according to Rivals.com, chose the Seminoles over Penn State, Texas A&M and Florida, although the Gators never officially offered him.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound middle linebacker visited the Noles in June and immediately felt comfortable on campus. It helped seeing a familiar face, former Bartow coach Odell Haggins.
“I guess he was always getting picked on for being from Bartow and stuff,” Stevenson told BHSN on June 25. “When I came up there, we were making jokes and stuff. I was saying I’m the best player to ever come from Bartow, it was funny.”
Stevenson, who broke his fibula last November, said he is now fully recovered from his injury. He said it meant a lot that the Noles, and other schools, stuck by him despite getting hurt.
“I thought the injury was going to hold me back, but a lot of schools stepped up to the table and offered me,” he said. “At first it was kind of shocking, but schools started jumping a lot, so it was encouraging.”
Despite his mean spirit on the football field, Stevenson wanted to let fans know he’s not so scary of a guy off the field. Florida State fans shouldn’t be worried about shaking his hand.
“I’m just a chill guy,” Stevenson said. “A lot of people look at me and get intimidated, but I like to have fun like everybody else. I’m not a teddy bear, but I’m not going to get in your face.”