Mike Norvell details young players that stood out in spring game

Florida State managed to go 13-0 in the regular season last year under coach Mike Norvell, and the Seminoles will have designs on reaching the College Football Playoffs this year.

Getting there will require some younger players stepping up to fill the void left by some key departures, like quarterback Jordan Travis, receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson, and defensive lineman Jared Verse.

The spring game certainly helped in that regard.

“It’s one of those things we’ll probably get a better sense of it as I get to watch more,” coach Mike Norvell said, coming off the game. “I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Landen Thomas. I know a couple times he got the ball in his hands and nothing overly explosive down the field. But I think he’s had a really good spring. You continue to see him flash and build on his confidence of what he’s doing.”

Thomas was one of the higher-rated recruits in Florida State’s 2024 recruiting class, checking in with a four-star grade and the No. 130 overall ranking in the class.

Norvell pointed out some other things he was impressed with in the spring game.

“Defensively I’ve got to go back and really watch it just to be able to say right here off the top of my head, but I like that young defensive back group,” Mike Norvell said. “I think they’ve got a chance to be really talented. Some of the younger linebackers, I saw those guys flying around. I thought KJ Sampson made a couple plays there on the defensive front.”

But Norvell’s observations weren’t limited strictly to players playing off the ball. He also discussed some of what he saw in the trenches, a key area.

“As we got into that next group within those defensive tackles, I mean I like that group,” Mike Norvell said. “I think it’s a group that has actually really gotten better throughout the course of the spring.

“Watched Tomiwa (Durojaiye) be able to go inside and out. He’s a newcomer, so not a freshman, but I thought he did some good things as we got a chance to watch it.”

Durojaiye is a transfer from West Virginia and one of several transfers who will be expected to make an impact going forward.

The good news for the Seminoles is Norvell came out of the team’s spring game feeling pretty good about the direction of things as the team readies for the 2024 campaign, hungry to prove last year’s playoff snub was unjust.