Mike Norvell explains 'getting the right guys' from the portal, which transfers have impressed

Entering the fourth season of his time at Florida State, Mike Norvell has garnered a reputation for using the transfer portal incredibly effectively. That has, in turn, helped him to rebuild the program and make the Seminoles one of the favorites in the ACC.

As Norvell explained during the 2023 ACC Football Kickoff, it’s less about taking a lot of players and more about taking the right players to fit the program’s culture.

“Really, the big picture of guys that are coming in, whether it’s high school, whether it’s transfers. We’re looking for the right fit,” Mike Norvell said. “I think there’s been a lot of focus on the transfer portal and guys that have come in — there’s plenty of programs that have taken more than we’ve taken. I just think we’re getting the right guys and guys that want to come and be a part of the program. We’ve got a wonderful group.”

Florida State has the ninth-ranked transfer class in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Team Transfer Portal Rankings. In that class, the Seminoles have brought in several key players who are starting to stand out to Mike Norvell.

“I mean, you look at Braden Fiske, is a guy I think has a chance to be a dynamic player for us. Jaheim Bell coming in from South Carolina. Jeremiah Byers. You know, Casey Roddick is one of those guys, he was a multi-year starter, a team captain. He’s come in and he wants to use that leadership, build those relationships.”

Norvell knows why these players have stood out to him. They’re working hard to get the most out of being at Florida State.

“All these guys want to make the most of their time at Florida State. Making a difference on the field, but also making a great difference and building those relationships in the locker room, and that’s what makes these guys truly who they are and it’s why you’ve seen our program continue to grow.”

Mike Norvell explained how Florida State is handling expectations

This season, expectations are high at Florida State for the first time in a long time. Handling those expectations has now become incredibly important for Mike Norvell and the Seminoles.

“I think you have to embrace expectations. Man, to be honest with you, that’s a question I get asked a lot is, ‘How are you handling expectations?’ Well, we’ve always had expectations. You come to Florida State because you want those expectations,” Norvell said.

“Maybe the outside, last year maybe the outside didn’t have much expectations of our team, but we believed in what we could do. We believed in what we could accomplish. This year it’s great that the country’s talking positively about our program. They should. It’s Florida State. This is a program to be proud of and the players I get to coach, but the expectations, they don’t determine what you’re going to do. We have to do that.”