Feb. 13, 2012

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Chris Casher knew he had to make a change.

After verbally committing to Florida State in January of 2011, Casher came to the realization that if he wanted to make due on that pledge and be eligible to compete for the Seminoles a year-and-a-half later he needed to switch high schools for his senior year so that he could better focus on academics.

Brandon Mellor
Seminoles.com Senior Writer

bmellor@fsu.edu

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Even though the transition from Faith Academy to Davidson High School proved to be one that worked in his favor in the classroom and has him poised to enroll at FSU this summer, it came with a price.

Due to Alabama High School Athletic Association rules, the talented defensive end was not permitted to play football during his senior year.

That means when Casher steps onto Bobby Bowden Field for the first time as a Seminole this fall, he will be part of an organized game for just the second time since the end of 2010. The only other time Casher has had the opportunity to harass an opposing quarterback was in January when he played in the Under Armour All-American Game.

“Chris Casher is a very interesting story,” FSU quarterbacks coach/recruiting coordinator Dameyune Craig said. “This is a kid who was ranked the No. 13 player in the nation even though he didn’t play a down of football this season.”

Obviously talent evaluators for the major recruiting services saw something in Casher as a junior to warrant such lofty rankings.

It was those same traits that Florida State’s coaches saw on film and in person at the Jimbo Fisher Football Camp as well; a physical freak with the speed, strength, athleticism and body needed to play defensive end.

“He reminds me a lot of the old Florida State defensive ends what they used to have back in the day,” said Craig, who served as Casher’s primary recruiter while providing guidance and advice during his season off the gridiron. “A lot of big, tall, rangy guys that can come off the edge and rush you and play the run and the pass.”

At FSU, Casher will be expected to learn from Brandon Jenkins, Bjoern Werner and Cornellius Carradine. He will get the chance — along with fellow signee Mario Edwards, Jr. — to earn a spot in the rotation behind those three and create more competition for one of the most talented defensive-end depth charts in the nation.

Number watch: Casher wore No. 7 for Faith Academy but that is unavailable in Tallahassee as long as Christian Jones is on the roster. Casher did wear No. 21 in the Under Armour All-American game, however, and that number is available for a defensive player following the off-season transfer of defensive back Avis Commack.

Chris Casher Highlights (FSU Football Video)

RANKINGS BREAKDOWN	247Sports	ESPN	Rivals
Position Nationally	7	3	4
Overall Nationally	49	23	36
Stars	4	4	4

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