Mom knows best: McCray to FSU "a done deal"

Hillsborough senior defensive lineman Moses McCray may be mum on the strength of his Florida State commitment, but his mother, Vanessa, effectively ended any speculation about her son's college choice Friday afternoon.

"FSU is a done deal," she told the Times Friday.

McCray had told the Times last month his commitment to Florida State was a "soft verbal" and he was "exploring my options" with Louisiana State and Miami. McCray declined to comment on his commitment Friday, only saying he could receive a home visit from LSU coaches this month. McCray had visited LSU this fall, saying it "felt like home."

But it won't be his college home.

"He won't be going to LSU," Vanessa McCray said. "LSU can give up. They're still trying - they've been trying since he took that visit. But that's all it was - a visit."

Vanessa McCray said neither the recent agreement that Jimbo Fisher will eventually take over for longtime coach Bobby Bowden, nor the academic scandal that hit the Seminoles athletic department - and football program - had an impact on her son's decision.

"I saw a few clips of it on the news," McCray said of the self reported academic violations. "But I didn't put too much thought into it."

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com