How old is old enough for someone to be sought after by an FBS (former Division I) school without being criticized? 

Can aspects of morality just be overlooked because of a gifted athlete’s contributions to a team? 

Well, if you’re Leon High School linebacker C.J. Mizell, age does not matter - if you have the flair to compete at the next level, what’s the point of arguing? 

“They’re very excited,” Leon High coach Bill Ragans said of Florida State awaiting the arrival of the 25th rated linebacker by ESPNU 150. “They said he was as good a 10th grader as anyone they’ve seen. They thought he was as good as the ones they recruited this year.” 

Mizell – a local Tallahassee product who suited up at Coffee County High in Douglas, GA before transferring to Leon – registered eye-gouging numbers as the Lions hash to hash prowler in his final year. 

The 6-foot-3 220 pounder blanketed opposing teams during his senior season finishing with 113 total tackles – 87 solo – and 23 for a loss. Mizell also recorded 12.5 sacks and was crowned 4A First Team All-State Honors in addition to being named a finalist for the prestigious Butkus Award by the Mobile Press Register. 

As a well-skilled and versatile force, Mizell can occupy space sideline-to-sideline with his 4.51 speed and while his standout season at Leon undoubtedly enlightened onlookers to how good he can be, the Tallahassee native found himself in a will-be familiar position when he suits up for Bobby Bowden next year. 

Mizell’s cousin – Stanley Hall – was a linebacker during his time in Tallahassee and some of Mizell’s coaches share the collegiate ties as well. 

Ragans was identified as a hard-hitting safety for the Tribe, while his position coach at Leon, John Gladden, is the son of former Seminole assistant coach Jim Gladden. 

Then if the lineage wasn’t deep enough, two more former Seminoles – Kyler Hall and Dominic Robinson – are on the Leon coaching staff and have had the pleasure of preparing Mizell for his career at Florida State. 

The ’Noles had to hustle compete against some stiff competition to get Mizell, Florida, Georgia, and Notre Dam were allin pursuit.