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FSU football's BJ Gibson won't play baseball this year. But will he play for Link Jarrett?
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- FSU football's BJ Gibson won't play baseball this year. But will he play for Link Jarrett?
BJ Gibson is a baseball guy.
Gibson originally committed to Tennessee baseball in August of 2022 before de-committing the following January. He announced his commitment to Florida State on the date of its 2023 Spring Showcase last April.
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He then signed with FSU football in December and is among several freshmen who are early enrollees.
But not playing his senior season of high school baseball season was a tough decision for the freshman receiver.
He does not regret the decision at all.
"Yeah, it was definitely hard because I'm a baseball guy," Gibson said at a newcomer availability Thursday.
"I skipped my whole senior season to come here. Which I don't regret because I feel like I could get a head start on things, getting in the motion of things early and just getting to the weight room early trying to get bigger, faster, and stronger for the season play and maybe see the field as a freshman."
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Gibson's baseball career is not over quite yet, however. He hit .472 with eight home runs, 36 runs scored and 34 RBI as a junior in 2022. He played in the outfield and pitched.
The freshman said he does have a plan to continue playing baseball and football, joining the likes such as Jameis Winston and Deion Sanders.
"I don't get to play this season, but after spring ball I am going to try and get some cage work in and some hitting in," Gibson said. "Hopefully next spring, I'll get to be out there."
For now, the focus is on where Gibson is earning his scholarship: football.
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The 6-foot receiver said he's up to 193 pounds. With his first experience of the Tour of Duty - FSU's offseason workouts - he is better off not worrying about baseball, just yet.
"The first day was pretty rough," Gibson said of the workouts led by strength and conditioning coach Josh Storms.
"Week-by-week, it gets better. It's definitely the hardest thing I've ever done. Not going to lie. But yeah, it was a shock, but as you get used to it, it gets better and better and puts you in the best shape."
Gibson - who attended Wilcox County High in Rochelle, Georgia - was a 4-star recruit, ranked No. 404 overall by 247Sports Composite.
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While he played defensive back and receiver in high school, he's focused on playing receiver in college.
Redshirt senior Ja'Khi Douglas was his recruiting host when Gibson was on his official visit. Now the relationship between the two continues to grow.
"Me and him have had a tight relationship since then," Gibson said. "He's been taking me under his wing and doing the things a vet should do."
Finishing second in recruiting
Winning a recruiting battle remains paramount to winning national championships. But finishing second also helps in today's transfer portal era.
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Just ask LSU transfer receiver Jalen Brown , who picked the Tigers over the Seminoles as a recruit in the 2023 class.
Brown never visited FSU after entering the portal before committing.
"Really, my family, we took it back to recruiting. Florida State was always high on my in recruiting, and it's my home state," Brown said. "When I entered the portal, I knew I wanted to come back to Florida and Florida State was one of my top schools when I was coming out of high school. So, it was a no-brainer that I was coming to Florida State."
The former standout at Gulliver Prep in Miami is listed at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds. He appeared in three games last season for the Tigers, redshirting his freshman season.
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In high school, he was ranked as the No. 68 overall prospect and the 12th-ranked receiver in the class by 247Sports Composite Rankings.
While the decision to transfer to FSU was an easy one for Brown, he said it helped affirm he made the right decision, even more, when the Seminoles landed DJ Uiagalelei out of the portal to be the likely starter in 2024.
"It's always good to play with veterans," Brown said of Uiagalelei. "I was very excited to play with DJ now. I watched him at Clemson a little bit at Oregon State. He's a very good quarterback, he throws the ball well and he can also tuck the ball down and run it down and make a big play.
"So after DJ committed I was like, 'Ok, I am good with Florida State."
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Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports), Instagram (tlhnolesports) and YouTube channel (NoleSportsTD).
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: BJ Gibson talks Tour of Duty, FSU football Tour of Duty
