How FSU's new transfers will mesh, what impact they could have in 2023

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell didn’t play around in the transfer portal this offseason. On3’s own JD PicKell believes Norvell’s extra grind could push the Seminoles to success.

“[Do] the transfers perform enough to push them over the edge? I don’t think they’ll hold them back. I think they have a chance to push them over the edge and win an ACC title on the beat for a College Football Playoff berth because they brought in some playmakers offensively — Keon Coleman, Jaheim Bell. They brought in some guys that have a chance to add to that production,” PicKell said.

That production is no joke. Florida State has the No. 1 returning production in all of college football. Norvell has transformed the Seminoles into an offensive machine. FSU recorded 62 touchdowns last season, ranking 16th in the nation.

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As PicKell mentioned, the Seminoles added some serious threats to that offense this offseason. Florida State brought in 12 players this spring while losing 22. Although the figure seems detrimental at first, the program actually improved.

FSU gained six former four-star prospects while only losing one. The majority of the program’s losses were three-star players. Thus, the Seminoles had the No. 9 best transfer portal, according to On3’s 2023 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings.

PicKell isn’t worried about the team’s talent. Instead, he stressed the importance of the Seminoles maintaining a strong culture.

“Do they hold [Florida State] back culturally?” PicKell asked. “That culture in place in Tallahassee is the most important thing you got to protect. A team that lost three games, bounced right back to finish the season strong… I know what this team is made of culture-wise, but you add 12 new transfers into that thing, that adds some other factors you got to deal with.”

The last thing FSU wants to do is upset the flow it created by the end of last season. After losing three-straight games in the middle of their season, Norvell and Co. rattled off six wins in a row to conclude the season, including an impressive 35-32 win over Oklahoma in their bowl game.

Only time will tell whether Florida State’s transfers will slow down the Seminoles’ momentum or propel them forward. Watch FSU’s fresh faces take the field for the first time in the garnet and gold on Sept. 3, against LSU.