4-star linebacker Gregory Batson decommits from Florida State, reopening Seminoles’ 2027 recruiting picture

Florida State’s 2027 recruiting class took a hit Wednesday when 4-star linebacker Gregory Batson announced his decommitment from the Seminoles. Batson, a standout from Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County, had been committed to FSU since Nov. 7. In his public message, he thanked God and expressed appreciation for the program, while also saying he has decided to reopen his recruitment with his options “100% open.”

Batson’s decision appears to come after another look at Tallahassee. According to reports, he returned for an official visit with Florida State, and the timing matters because the summer recruiting window often reshuffles commitments after official trips. After previously trending toward committing, he reversed course, a pattern that recruiting watchers often see when prospects want to compare late-changing board priorities.

Recruiting rankings place Batson among the more prominent linebackers available in his class. One industry compilation cited him as the No. 340 overall prospect and No. 28 linebacker in the 2027 cycle, and also noted his standing as a top recruit in Georgia. Other recruiting outlets have described him as a high-impact talent at linebacker, which is relevant for a program that has continued to treat the position as a long-term building block rather than a one-year need.

The decommitment reintroduces uncertainty into Florida State’s linebacker planning. One report characterized Batson as one of the higher-rated commitments Florida State held in the 2027 class, meaning the Seminoles now must fill a specific skill-set opening with new targets. With the class still forming, FSU’s coaches can re-recruit Batson and also pivot quickly to alternative options at the position.

Batson’s public comments did not outline a specific destination, but the broader recruiting context provides some leads on where interest may shift. Reports tied Mississippi State to his recruitment and referenced flirtation with an official visit to Starkville. Other offers previously mentioned include Auburn, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Florida and West Virginia, leaving multiple programs in contention if Batson decides to expand his official visit list.

The timing also comes as Florida State continues to manage momentum and setbacks across its board. Reports indicate that June has been a mixed month for the Seminoles, with multiple changes at the recruiting level, even as the program has landed other blue-chip commitments from its class-building efforts. The net effect is that the Seminoles must balance recruiting communication, evaluation continuity and scholarship/roster fit as they chase a full class rather than isolated targets.

For Batson, the next phase is straightforward: he is back on the market during official visit season, which typically sets up a rapid cycle of travel, in-home conversations and position-specific clarity with coaching staffs. For Florida State, the watch item is whether the Seminoles can reassert priority with Batson, or whether his reopening becomes a longer process that forces the program to commit to a different linebacker prospect. Either way, the decommitment gives Florida State a recruiting deadline, even if it does not change the immediate on-field offseason roster mechanics.