Florida State flips DeMarcus Walker from Alabama

The hire of new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt is already paying off for the Florida State Seminoles. The former Alabama defensive back coach flipped one of Alabama's prized recruits to the Seminoles Monday night, despite the Tide winning its third national title in four years.

I am committed to Florida State University #GoNoles

— DeMarcus Walker (@livinglegend_44) January 8, 2013

The recruit? DeMarcus Walker, of Jacksonville (Fla.) Sandalwood High School. Walker is a consensus four-star recruit. At 6'3.5 and 280 pounds, Walker is powerfully built and should be able to fit in quite well with the 4-3 and 3-4 schemes that Florida State will be running under Pruitt. Walker will enroll Tuesday.

Walker's coach spoke with the Jacksonville Times-Union.

"He really got kind of nervous about going that far away from home," Geis said. "I think DeMarcus, in the end, felt more comfortable with Jeremy."

Walker had originally committed to Alabama in late August, and had continually flirted with Florida throughout the process. Walker seemingly had little interest in the Seminoles until very late in the process, created almost exclusively by Pruitt's relationship with the young defensive end.

Walker is the 17th commitment of the 2013 class for the Seminoles, and the second defensive end of the class.