It’s arguably the most high-profile recruiting class in NCAA men’s golf history.
Florida State signed four players during the early signing period for the Class of 2027, including Miles Russell, not only the No. 1 junior across the board but arguably the most highly regarded high-schooler in over a decade, and Charlie Woods, the son of 15-time major winner Tiger Woods who has developed into a top-50 player in his class in recent years.
“The main thing was I was going to stay somewhat close to home, and Tallahassee is under three hours,” said Russell, who lives in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. “There is so much upside to Coach Jones, the facilities and Florida State as a school. Looking forward to going in August.”
Added Woods on Instagram: “Proud to officially be a Seminole. Huge thank you to my family, coaches, and everyone who has helped me get here. Can’t wait to get started and compete alongside my new teammates.”
Sweden’s Edwin Askerfors and Orlando native Kaden Puranik round out the class for head coach Trey Jones.
Russell will arrive on campus next fall and immediately slot into the top of the Seminoles’ starting lineup. He already has won three of the four legs of the modern junior slam, including twice the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley and AJGA Junior Players Championship; the U.S. Junior Amateur, which Russell was runner-up this past summer, is the only major junior title that has eluded him.
Earlier this week, Russell captured his third AJGA Rolex Junior Boys Player of the Year honor, tying Phil Mickelson’s record.
Russell, the sixth-ranked amateur in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, is also already at eight PGA Tour University Accelerated points, so there is the potential that he could reach 20 during his college career. Starting next summer, should Russell get to 20, he would be eligible to take up membership on the PGA Tour’s second tier, dubbed the Challenger Series. The catch, at least for now, is that he’d have to turn pro and activate his PGA Tour card in January, at the start of the season, which comes in the middle of the college-golf calendar.
Leaving midseason isn’t uncommon. Ole Miss senior Michael La Sasso was the most recent to do so, bolting for LIV Golf at the start of this year, and back in 2012, Jordan Spieth, whom Russell is often compared to, opted to leave Texas midway through his sophomore year. Spieth, of course, had already led the Longhorns to an NCAA title as a freshman.
Jones would surely take a national championship – Florida State finished runner-up to Auburn in 2024 – in return for a couple years of Russell’s services.
Russell shot down any idea of bypassing college altogether, like Blades Brown did a couple years ago before winning Sunday for the first time on the PGA Tour, in Cabo.
“I don’t think so, and if it was, it was knocked down very quickly,” Russell said of skipping school. “I don’t think that was quite the right path for me. I still have a lot of growing to do, and I’m still changing as a golfer, changing as a person. Just to have a few extra years, and maybe I can have a chance that when I come out of school, I’ll be fully set and ready to go.”
Woods, on the other hand, project to be a four- or five-year player for Florida State. He burst onto the scene at the 2020 PNC Championship, where he competed as an 11-year-old alongside his dad. Individually, Woods’ breakthrough came at the 2025 AJGA Team TaylorMade Invitational at Streamsong, where he beat the likes of Russell, Tyler Watts and Luke Colton.
Woods has qualified for three U.S. Juniors, nearly making match play earlier this year at Saucon Valley before falling in a playoff. He recently posted a T-8 at the Junior Players, his first top-10 since last year’s Junior PGA, where he shared ninth.
Woods is ranked as Golf Channel’s No. 41 signee in his class. He also is ranked No. 1,759 in WAGR.
“He’s competitive, I’m competitive, so any time we’re just out playing around, chipping, putting, whatever it is, there’s always a little game going on,” Russell said of Woods. “He’s just a normal kid. He’s one of my best friends and definitely one of my favorite people to play golf with.”