MKRob Sports

Two years after Lamarcus Joyner had said that he would one day become a Florida State Seminole, the 5-9, 175-pound defensive back, stuck to his word.

Joyner, a versatile star, now at Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas — the nation’s No. 1 ranked high school football team, committed to the Seminoles over Ohio State and Florida.

Joyner is rated the No. 5 overall prospect in the country by ESPN.

Joyner has rushed for 399 yards and four touchdowns on 47 attempts, caught 16 passes for 269 yards and four touchdowns, and returned three kickoffs for touchdowns. At Southwest Miami High as a sophomore and junior, he helped lead the Eagles to their only district championship in the school’s history.

“From the time he walked onto the football field at Southwest, I knew he was something very special.” said former Southwest coach Patrick Burrows, who is now turning Miami Southridge’s storied program around. “No matter where you put him, he was extremely impressive.”

Since making the move to St. Thomas Aquinas this year, Joyner has enhanced his national standing. It was his impressive showing in the nationally-televised game against Byrnes, S.C. that drew praise from players, coaches an colleges throughout the country.

Joyner is part of a banner recruiting class that the Seminoles have going as legendary Bobby Bowden is giving way to Jimbo Fisher and a new regime in Tallahassee.