FLORIDA STATE LOOSES THREE BIGGEST STAR DUE TO…

| January 26, 2024 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Mike Norvell Makes Decision on Future Following Alabama InterestFlorida State fans are quite aware of how head football coach Mike Norvell feels about his tight ends. I remember the days when individuals would ask the following question: “Why do the Seminoles need so many tight ends?”. Tight ends are being heavily utilized in the offense where they are used as blockers, in-line receiving threats, in the slot, and on the outside. Unfortunately, the Seminoles lost former South Carolina tight end transfer Jaheim Bell to the NFL.
During the 2023 season, Bell played tremendously for Florida State where he recorded 39 receptions for 503 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was the third-leading pass catcher on the team. With his loss, the Seminoles had to now rely on the services of Kyle Morlock and Markeston “Biscuit” Douglas.
However, Douglas announced that he would be entering the transfer portal (ended up transferring to Arizona State to be coached by former offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham). Douglas had 11 receptions for 136 yards and 2 touchdowns during last year’s campaign. The former three-star prospect in the Class of 2020 had been a serviceable option for the Seminoles. With the loss of Douglas, Florida State could have to rely on true freshman Landen Thomas (someone that Norvell referred to as “the best tight end in America”).Mike Norvell Makes Decision on Future Following Alabama Interest
FSU football rival fans have long been jeolous of Mike Norvell and the coaching staff’s ability to recruit transfer portal players. FSU’s coaching staff were among the first to understand the importance of acquiring talent at key positions from the portal to close the gap on the field. It’s rare for high school players to find playing time early, no matter how many stars they have coming out of high school. It often takes 1-2 years for offensive and defensive linemen to get physically prepared to play. It’s also a tough transition for wide receivers, tight ends and linebackers. It’s why those positions rarely have players that contribute at at a high impact level.
If we go back to peak Jimbo Fisher FSU, those top recruiting classes rarely had guys who shined as true freshmen. Lamacus Joyner, Christian Jones, Telvin Smith, Nick O’Leary, and others were not amazing. However, they made incredible jumps in subsequent years. FSU coaches in the Mike Norvell era have done the same with prep players, but they’ve also shown success getting production from talented transfer portal guys with little to no production.
Rivals fans love to talk about FSU recruiting and the narratives they can’t develop prep players and use the portal. However, they then try to say FSU coaches take guys from the portal with no production. FSU coaches have nullified both narratives, and it’s why you’ve seen prep recruiting drastically improve, and why FSU always has top transfer portal classes. Let’s look at some prep and transfer portal guys the FSU coaches developed.Mike Norvell Makes Decision on Future Following Alabama Interest

Florida State fans are well aware of Coach Mike Norvell’s emphasis on utilizing tight ends in the football program. In the past, people questioned the need for a substantial number of tight ends on the team. However, these players play crucial roles in various aspects of the offense, serving as blockers, in-line receiving threats, in the slot, and on the outside.

The team faced a setback with the departure of Jaheim Bell, a former South Carolina tight end transfer, to the NFL. Bell had an impressive 2023 season, contributing 39 receptions for 503 yards and 2 touchdowns, ranking third in receptions for the team. With his departure, the Seminoles turned to Kyle Morlock and Markeston “Biscuit” Douglas. Unfortunately, Douglas decided to enter the transfer portal, ultimately choosing to transfer to Arizona State under the guidance of former offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham.

Douglas, who had 11 receptions for 136 yards and 2 touchdowns in the previous season, had been a reliable option for the Seminoles. Now, the team might have to rely on true freshman Landen Thomas, whom Norvell has referred to as “the best tight end in America.”

One notable aspect of Florida State’s success is its ability to recruit effectively from the transfer portal. The coaching staff, under Norvell, recognized early on the importance of acquiring talent from the portal to strengthen key positions and bridge performance gaps on the field. While high school players typically face challenges in securing early playing time, transfer portal recruits can make immediate impacts.Mike Norvell Makes Decision on Future Following Alabama Interest

Looking back to the peak Jimbo Fisher era, highly touted recruits rarely made significant contributions as true freshmen. Players like Lamacus Joyner, Christian Jones, Telvin Smith, Nick O’Leary, and others made substantial improvements in subsequent years. Similarly, under Norvell, the coaching staff has successfully developed both high school recruits and transfer portal additions, debunking narratives about their inability to nurture prep players and relying solely on the portal.

Despite skepticism from rival fans about FSU’s recruiting strategies, the coaching staff has demonstrated success in developing talent from various sources, leading to significant improvements in prep recruiting and consistently strong transfer portal classes.

Related Posts

About The Author

sportkicker

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *