It’s peak recruiting season, and college football coaches are going a little extra mile to lock down their favorite high school target. Despite the playoffs being around the corner, the recruiting frenzy doesn’t slow—if anything, it picks up the speed. One of the most sought-after prospects in the 2026 class is Rodney Dunham, and the recruiting buzz around him is constantly growing. This dual-sport dynamo from Myers Park High School is turning heads in both football and baseball, catching the eye of top programs in the SEC and Big Ten. That’s some kind of achievement, right? Dunham has emerged as one of the most intriguing athletes on the radar for the boards. Despite the growing interest, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell remains hopeful in pursuit of this wonder kid, keeping the Seminoles in the mix.

Many, including Norvell, have their eyes on Rodney Dunham, a 6’4″, 230-pound EDGE from Charlotte. The dual-sport star has officially been ranked as a top-20 recruit in the 2026 class (No. 3 EDGE). On November 4th, On3’s Hayes Fawcett shared that “Elite 2026 EDGE Rodney Dunham is down to 8.”

Well, isn’t just another typical top-tier recruit—he’s a rare — once-in-a-half-decade type of talent who can get sacks for your team and throw 90mph on the same night. His skill set is a blend of size, speed, and versatility that makes coaches roll their eyes backward in awe. His unique athleticism allows him to sneak through the defense or even go through the defense for the sacks. It’s no surprise that powerhouse programs are already in hot pursuit.

Three college football powerhouses—Georgia, Alabama from the SEC, and Ohio State from the Big Ten—have all expressed significant interest in him. Dunham has already made an official visit to the 2 of these schools. Bulldogs on May 20th and Ohio State on October 1, both of his visits, were successful. This Morning he took it to his Instagram post, flexing on us about his offers from major programs, including the Gamecocks, Notre Dame, Florida State, Duke, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and the Bulldogs.

Dunham recently made an unofficial visit to Tennessee on October 19 for their thrilling upset win over Alabama, and he called the atmosphere “probably the best environment I’ve ever seen.” Even Florida State coach Mike Norvell extended an offer to Dunham during his unofficial visit to their spring practice.

Florida State and Mike Norvell’s optimism on Rodney Dunham and future

While Programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State are bringing their A-game for the recruiting process, Florida State HC Mike Norvell is determined to keep the 4-Star athlete on the Seminoles’ radar. Norvell has experience in building a competitive program that can give a good fight to top programs. Well, this kind of environment resonates well with Dunham. Though the competition is fierce, Norvell remains confident that FSU’s track record of developing players—coupled with the family-like atmosphere within the program, that might resonate with Dunham when it’s time to make a decision.

The Seminoles went undefeated last season and made it to the Orange Bowl. But, however, faced a humiliating 63-3 loss against the Bulldogs. Ever since that game, the Seminoles failed to find the rhythm to this day. The Seminoles are now (1-8) to the season. Now, imagine going undefeated to 1-8 all within a one-year span, it’s very upsetting to think about it. The Seminoles football and Mike Norvell are in a struggling period. The adversity hit them very hard in the face. But, Mike Norvell is very optimistic about Seminole’s future, “But what I can tell you is that there is going to be a change in what we’ve seen from this year to this next year” he told Sports Illustrated.

The Seminoles rebuilding after their historic horrible season must begin with a successful recruiting campaign. And hopefully, it starts with Rodney Dunham. However, with so many top programs vying and trying to lure him in for commitment, can Norvell convince him to choose FSU?