Florida State's roster will 'look very different' from 2023 season

There’s no doubt that Florida State lost a ton of talent off of last year’s roster. Quarterback Jordan Travis, receiver Keon Coleman, and defensive linemen Jared Verse and Braden Fiske are all off to the NFL.

Still, On3’s Andy Staples has high expectations for Florida State entering the 2024 season. Staples recently joined Kelly Gramlich and Eric Mac Lain and shared how this year’s roster will be much different, but not necessarily lacking in talent.

“What I’m fascinated by this year is, so you lose Jordan Travis, which I don’t think people appreciate how consistent, steady a hand on the wheel Jordan Travis was. You bring in DJ Uiagalelei. It’s going to look very different, because no Keon Coleman, no Braden Fiske, no Jared Verse,” Staples said. “Those were all transfers, but they were all transfers who made massive impacts on a team. This is going to look very different, but I feel like Mike Norvell has earned the benefit of the doubt from us, in terms of selecting people out of the transfer portal.”

Norvell used transfer portal additions last season to help Florida State start the year 13-0 and win the ACC. FSU had four straight losing seasons from 2018-2021 before winning 10 games in 2022 and 13 games in 2023. Staples is impressed with the job Norvell has done in Tallahassee.

“I actually love what Mike Norvell’s done there, because I remember what it was like when Willie Taggart got fired. I remember the hole he had to get them out of. The job he’s done has been amazing,” Staples said.

Florida State added players from Alabama, Georgia, LSU and other top programs this offseason in an effort to get back near the top of the college football world. Staples believes it could work well for the Seminoles and lead to Florida State earning a College Football Playoff berth.

“For a while there it looked like he was really good at raiding South Carolina’s roster – Jammie Robinson, Jaheim Bell. He was great at that,” Staples said of Mike Norvell. “Well, now he’s raiding Georgia and Alabama’s rosters. And are these guys that were going to start at Georgia or Alabama? Maybe not. Are these guys that were going to be the first guy in if somebody goes down at Georgia or Alabama? Yep, that’s who they are.

“And if they develop, because these are also guys that have multiple years of eligibility left. So they could develop into being a player who’s as good or better as that person who’s starting over them at Alabama or Georgia. I think that gives Florida State some good runway.”

Staples added that FSU’s success with transfers — as well as on the field — has led to the Seminoles bringing in more top high school talent, too.

Florida State signed the No. 12 recruiting class in the country for 2024, per the On3 Industry rankings.

“I also think they’ve used that success in the transfer portal to improve what they get out of high school,” Staples said. “This class of 2024 was the most top-200 players they’ve had since the Jimbo Fisher era.”