American Heritage-Delray top kicker Jake Weinberg makes it official with Florida State

DELRAY BEACH — American Heritage-Delray kicker Jake Weinberg’s “official’’ visit to Florida State came at a strange time for the revered football program.

Making national headlines, FSU had just been snubbed from the College Football Playoff despite the Seminoles’ ACC championship and unbeaten 13-0 season.

“It kind of sucked, especially knowing the players,’’ Weinberg told The Palm Beach Post about the selection committee’s decision. “Having won every single game, they did their job and weren’t rewarded like they were supposed to be. I know the players didn’t like that. I made my visit right after and we were all talking about it. And they said it kind of sucked.’’

Wednesday, on the official early signing day, Weinberg cemented bringing his lethal leg to Tallahassee.

The signing took place before 10 of his American-Heritage coaches, a dozen current and former teammates, and a bevy of family and friends. “I’m taking my talents to Florida State,’’ Weinberg said during the ceremony staged at Duffy’s Sports Grill in Delray Beach.

Weinberg had verbally committed to Florida State several months before but this was a big moment. “I wanted to celebrate this with all the people who’ve helped me along the way — family, friends, coaches," said Weinberg, whose father hails from New York's Long Island and mother from Nashville. “I wanted to have them all here today to support me and the next step in my dream."

On Dec. 30, Weinberg will attend the Orange Bowl with his family when Florida State, minus its injured star quarterback Jordan Travis, faces defending national champion Georgia in what is a significant consolation prize.

“Obviously, they have something to prove," Weinberg said. “It’s a good chance for the young guys to start proving. I can’t wait, especially going with my family. I love watching the team play."

There wasn’t a close second choice despite interest from Penn State, Florida, Florida Atlantic and Tennessee.

“I wanted to play for a school that believed in me the most," said Weinberg, born and bred in South Florida. “Florida State was the school that showed the most interest. I felt a different vibe up at Florida State. My family loved it up there. I loved it up there. And I wanted to play for coach (Mike) Norvell.

“First time I met him, of all the coaches I met, he was the coolest to talk to,"  Weinberg added. “He’s a player's coach. I can see myself playing for him. Every time I talked to him, I felt comfortable around him."

Weinberg got on Florida State’s radar when he attended its youth camp as a freshman. During a private workout there, he nailed 14 of 15 field goals, including a 56-yarder at age 16.

At age 18, Weinberg’s senior season in Delray went splendidly from an individual standpoint, but American Heritage posted a 3-7 clip.

He finished his career with four 50-plus field goals, including a 57-yarder in 2022 and a 52-yarder this season. Thirty-one of his 33 kickoffs sailed through the end zone for touchbacks.

“The difference with Jake and other kickers is his consistency," A-H Delray kicking coach Dan Levine said. “There’s a lot of people who can occasionally kick a 56-yarder but he can consistently do that. He also consistently makes every kick no matter what because his technique is so sound. He works really hard. He’s in the weight room. He’s much more mature for his age as a kicker."

Levine was a member of the Miami Hurricanes' 1991 national championship team but approves of the FSU signing.

“I am super excited," Levine said. “I’m a 'Cane myself but it’s an amazing choice, a perfect for for him. He’s going to get a lot of action and his parents can go to the games and don’t have to fly across the country."

Weinberg has become friends with current kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, who next season will return as a sixth-year senior. So 2024 is looking like more of an apprentice role for Weinberg.

“I definitely would love to win a national championship but being behind a sixth-year senior, I’ll learn everything I can from him and take all the advice from him," Weinberg said. “I’ll learn everything because he’s been through it all, all the games he’s played. When his time is over, I’ll continue my journey at Florida State."

American Heritage head coach Brandon Rooze said FSU was Weinberg’s “dream school."

“It’s been a dream of his from the beginning, being a Florida guy," Rooze said. “There’s a lot of exciting things happening in Tallahassee right now. His future there will be very bright."

Weinberg brought more to the program than his leg strength, offering leadership as a specialist, which is rare.

“He’s such a good person and representation of what it means to be a student-athlete at American Heritage," Rooze said. “He’s a good student, great teammate and really well-respected. I never see in high school, a kicker being voted team captain by his peers.

“He’s sound in everything he does and very physically gifted, but worked hard to get to where he’s gotten. He’s in this position to sign with Florida State because of a culmination of years and years of hard work. And he can kick the crap out of it too."

His longest kick, unofficially, traveled 68 yards during a practice session at Somerset Canyons. Weinberg played soccer his whole life but gave up on it as a serious college sport when the Inter Miami Academy youth team cut him when he was 14. “I realized I was a better field-goal kicker," Weinberg said.

So have the Seminoles.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jake Weinberg, top American Heritage-Delray kicker, signs with FSU