How in-state recruiting success is the key to taking the next step for Florida State

As Florida State looks to build on an impressive 2022 season, the Seminoles hit the transfer portal hard. That’s helped put them in the early conversation for an ACC title with such a massive haul coming in.

But if FSU wants to become a perennial contender, in-state recruiting has to heat up as it competes with Miami and Florida, according to On3’s J.D. PicKell.

Florida State has the No. 9-ranked transfer portal class coming in, according to the On3 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings. But the Seminoles scored the No. 19 overall recruiting class from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking — behind Florida (13) and Miami (6). Although they have momentum in the portal, PicKell argued Mike Norvell and Co. have to plant their flag in the state of Florida on the recruiting trail.

“The thing for Florida State, to me, is establish your rank in the state of Florida. … We haven’t seen it translate in recruiting just yet for Florida State,” PicKell said on The Hard Count. “That’s kind of what we prefaced this whole segment in. There’s so much talent in the state of Florida that if you were to win the state of Florida when it comes to recruiting and you’re an in-state school, you’re set up for success down the line. Florida State, they’ve done a lot through the portal, but it sort of feels like they’re still trying to win over the high school level.”

JD PicKell: Florida State has an opportunity to leapfrog other Florida schools on the recruiting trail

Expectations are high at Florida State this year. That’s not necessarily the case at Miami and Florida, both of which are coming off tough first seasons after coaching changes. If the Seminoles live up to the hype and contend in the ACC, PicKell said that could have a ripple effect and impact recruiting.

Plus, the College Football Playoff is expanding starting in 2024. If FSU can crack the soon-to-be 12-team field, that will help even more.

“Think about what Florida State is supposed to do this year,” PicKell said. “Supposed to, in a lot of people’s minds in Tallahassee, win the ACC. Supposed to be in that College Football Playoff conversation. If they do those things, if they win the ACC, if they’re in the College Football Playoff, then you view Florida State differently in the pecking order in the state of Florida. Because I don’t think Miami is going to stay down. I’m probably in the minority here, I don’t think Billy Napier and Florida are gonna stay down just by nature of the way that both those schools do things.

“But if Florida State beats both those schools yet again, if Florida State looks dominant in the ACC and does … what they’re supposed to do, then recruits are saying, ‘OK, that’s the top dog in the state of Florida.’ ‘Okay, maybe that’s the school that we should go to if we want to do some good things on Saturdays.’ ‘Yeah, Miami is good. Yeah, Florida is good. But if I can stay home and I can play for a team that’s going to be in the College Football Playoff when it expands every single year, it feels like, I want to go play for that school.’ Like for Florida State this year is about establishing that you are the big dog in the state. Just do what you’re supposed to do and establish your rank.”