Running back Giovanni Bernard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Saint Thomas Aquinas) has been one of Florida State's top priorities at his position since early spring. With the shock of Marcus Lattimore's surprising dismissal of Florida State from his final five, the Seminoles coaches now have more time than before to focus on Bernard, who similarly trimmed his list earlier this week.

Bernard has narrowed his list to a final eight.

“The remaining schools I have are Florida, Miami, FSU, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Alabama, and Oregon State (where his brother played),” Bernard said. “I cut down one school last night (laughter). I cut Oklahoma. I spoke to their coaches last night and he told me that he has his two running backs and they are done recruiting the position. It’s just business, so I'm not taking it to the heart.”

The 5-foot-9, 200-pounder stated that even though all eight schools on his list are recruiting him with a consistent effort, a select few have done a little but more to make sure that their interest in his services on the gridiron is noticed.

“Most of the Florida schools,” said Bernard. "Tennessee, and Alabama as well. Pretty much all of the schools are staying on me.”

Bernard spoke of Florida State’s efforts in particular.

“They are just in the mixture with everybody else," he said. "They aren't sticking out or anything. I speak with Coach James Coley the majority of the time. Coach Dexter Carter is their running backs coach, and I try to talk to him the most. I've spoken with them a lot in the last week, because I just visited with them."

The visit to Tallahassee was last month for Florida State's exclusive, invite only camp. At Seminole Showtime, he was introduced to former Seminole greats and watched from close up as they instructed other elite talent from Florida and the rest of the country.

Bernard got to look at the campus up-close with quarterback prospect Clint Trickett, the son of FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett, FSU commit Darius Cummings and Under Armour All-American linebacker Christian Jones.

Florida State has made their presence well known at Bernard's school. He is one of five seniors at STA that have picked up an offer from the Noles this year. With FSU having such a presence at his school this year - and all but one (Brandon Linder) of the five seriously considering the Noles - does the potential to join fellow teammates Lamarcus Joyner, Keion Payne, Cody Riggs, or Brian Robinson factor into his decision when considering Florida State?

"We don't talk about things like that," Bernard said. "Everybody just wants to get a chance to play. Everybody is not going to attend the same school. We know that. We just have to make the best decision for ourselves.”

Bernard knows of one school that will definitely be receiving one of his five official visits.

“Notre Dame will definitely be receiving one on Oct. 27, when they play," Bernard said. I'm still trying to leave some in for some of our bye weekends. We have two bye weekends and one of those weekends, I am just going to take it off and relax. I'm pretty sure most of the out of state school will get them because I haven't had a chance to see them. If I don't take any officials to any of the Florida schools it doesn't mean I don't like them or anything.”

Bernard also broke down a timetable for a decision.

“I won't have a decision until probably after the season,” Bernard said. “I want to see everything and I don't think I can during my season.”

As a Junior, Bernard rushed for 1,528 yards on 160 carries (9.8 ypc), and put the ball into the end zone on the ground 18 times. He is a four-star rated prospect (grade of 79) by ESPN.com and is the No. 16 running back in the country.

-NoleInsider.com's Mike Wolczik contributed to this report.