Greg McElroy intrigued by Florida State's additions in transfer portal

The Florida State Seminoles under head coach Mike Norvell have been known for their aggressive use of the transfer portal. That’s usage that has caught the attention of ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy.

During an episode of Always College Football, McElroy explained what he found intriguing about Florida State’s transfer portal additions.

“The first thing I’m interested in when it comes to Florida State, the transfers,” Greg McElroy said. “I mean, it’s as if Mike Norvell has found a new lease on life with his ability to attract players in the transfer portal. Now I’m not saying that they were the best in college football this year, as far as the portal is concerned. Some people would have other teams at or near the top…but I just take it with a grain of salt.”

Florida State is the 13th-ranked team in the On3 2023 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings. The Seminoles have taken in 10 transfer players, including Jaheim Bell and Fentrell Cypress among others.

“Like I don’t go one, two, three, four, like best portal, second best portal, third best portal. I don’t really got that way. I look at it, did you get better or get worse by way of the portal and Florida State, like they did a year ago, appears to have gotten better. We already know some of the people that they brought in a year ago,” McElroy explained.

“Trey Benson, from Oregon. The running backs. Jared Verse, the outstanding defensive end from Albany. The receivers that they were able to bring in with Johnny Wilson and a handful of others. They got much, much better at wide receiver, defensive end, positions of need from 2021 to 2022.”

For Greg McElroy, one of the biggest concerns is blending new players with the current team and making sure that everyone is complimenting each other. That’s especially true on a team where certain positions are already taken.

“But then I look at this upcoming year and I look at this spring. How are the new additions going to factor in as far as playing time is concerned? Florida State brings back an awful lot of productivity from last year, a lot of contributors, All-ACC players that are coming back. I already referenced a few of them. Jordan Travis at quarterback. He’s back. Johnny Wilson at wide receiver. He’s back…they bring back a handful of guys that were All-ACC performers a year ago but now, how do you compliment the returning players with the new additions without disrupting some of the chemistry that was created last year? That’s what I want to see. Going into this upcoming season we already know that they’ve attracted some big time difference makers potentially”

Greg McElroy pointed to Fentrell Cypress at corner and defensive line additions like Braden Fiske, among others, as notable additions to help the defense out. It wasn’t just on defense, though, as the offensive line added a potential starter in Jeremiah Byers. Then, tight end Jaheim Bell can create matchup issues that complement Florida State’s wide receivers.

“Can you handle the hype? Naturally, that’s a huge question mark. We’re not gonna really learn that in the spring. But, now that you have fortified your roster yet again with great impact transfers, how do they factor in without disrupting some of the progress that’s already been made?”

Is Florida State the best returning ACC team?

Not only is Greg McElroy intrigued by what the Seminoles are doing in the transfer portal, he’s also putting incredibly high expectations on the team as a whole. He thinks that Florida State is the best returning team in the ACC, which means it’s time to win the conference.

“I think they’re the best team returning in the ACC,” McElroy said.

“You’re gonna say, ‘Greg, how can you say that? They lost to NC State. They lost to Clemson.’ I understand that, but you look at what’s returning. You’ve got seven back on offense. You’ve got nine back on defense. They have already proven to be a team that can not just attract guys in the portal, but can take the guys they brought in and put them in a great situation to make a legitimate leap forward. I think that’s what they’ll do this year.”