Mike Norvell shares thoughts on incoming recruiting class

As Florida State ramps up for their Cheez-It Bowl matchup with  Oklahoma on December 29, they’re also ramping up to welcome in their incoming 2023 recruiting class. Seminoles head coach Mike Norvel was not able to speak on specific recruits, but shared his thoughts on their next wave of incoming young talent.

“We’re excited about that group that’s coming, we’ve had great official visit weekends,” Norvell said. “We’re addressing a lot of the needs that we have, continuing to improve as a football team and program and we’re getting the right guys.”

The Seminoles currently have the third-ranked 2023 recruiting class in the ACC behind Miami and Clemson according to On3 Consensus, headlined by their lone five-star prospect Hykeem Williams, a wide receiver from Fort Lauderdale.

The Seminoles have also been active in recruiting in the transfer portal, securing commitments out of tight ends Jaheim Bell and Kyle Morlock, who rank first and third at the position according to the On3 transfer portal rankings.

Between prepping for their bowl game and having to recruit between the high school and college ranks, it’s surely a hectic time to be a head football coach. But Norvell is confident and optimistic about what they’ve accomplished and who they have joining the program soon.

“And that’s something the last few weeks it’s been a grind, been in a lot of different places, been in front of a lot of families, but the thing I have the most confidence in is with all the athleticism, size, speed, and power that these guys posses they’ve got the right mindset, they’ve got the right heart. They’re excited about the direction of where we’re going and it definitely fires me up for what the future holds,” Norvell said.

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.