Mike Norvell discusses commitment to making best decision for each player

As conference championship and bowl season approach, so does the decision many student-athletes will have to make regarding their decision to forgo their college eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft or to stay at their respective university. Various players on Florida State‘s roster will be faced with that choice, and head coach Mike Norvell explained how he gives advice to his players during their crossroads.

“Anytime that a young man has a decision to make, I’m not gonna just throw out an opinion just to say that I have one, I want to get all the information,” Norvell said. “We’re going to go through every process and it’s a commitment I made when I was a young coach and you’re kind of coming up.”

It’s no secret that coaches deep down want all their best players and talent on their rosters for as long as they can have them, but Norvell insists that he puts those desires past him and gives his players the most honest advice and guidance for what’s best for them individually.

“All things and all advice I give is going to be what’s best for the student-athlete, sometimes that’s not always what might be best best selfishly, but wanting to make sure we help guide them for their future opportunities,” Norvell said.

The situation isn’t a new one for Norvell, but his roster this season definitely has the potential to have more players hear their names called in April compared to last year. Last season defensive end Jermaine Johnson was the only Seminole to get drafted, but this season players like Jared Verse, Fabien Lovett, Robert Scott Jr., Akeem Dent, Jammie Robinson, and others are high on many people’s prospect lists.

“We’ve had those conversations in the past and obviously, we’ll have opportunities here moving forward, but once we get all the information and be able to present that to them with the factual knowledge of what’s ahead in opportunities, then I’ll give an opinion. But it’s always gonna be a thought-out opinion rather than saying what I think would be best for me or even the university at the time,” Norvell said.

Verse and Robinson have already committed to playing in the Seminoles bowl game, but have not made a decision regarding their decision to come back to Tallahassee or not. The choice can be a tough and stressful one to make, but thankfully for the Seminoles, they have a coach in their corner that surely has their best interest in mind.