Mike Norvell offers his initial impressions of Georgia Tech

Week 0 is here in college football with the biggest game in the first weekend of the season being a conference matchup between No. 10 Florida State and Georgia Tech from Dublin, Ireland.

Mike Norvell previewed the opening matchup with the Yellow Jackets on Saturday in the first episode of Inside Seminole Football on Monday. He began by complimenting the work of Brent Key through a year and a half as head coach at GT. That includes what they’ve done to end both seasons he has had there thus far.

“I think Coach Key has done a wonderful job there with the program,” said Norvell to Jeff Culhane. “I mean, you look at how they finished? It’s definitely impressive.”

“I think they’re very well-coached,” Norvell said.

Now, for this season, Georgia Tech brings back two-thirds of their starting lineup who will make their season debut across the pond against the ‘Noles.

“You know, they’re one of the most experienced, most returning starters coming back there in the ACC,” noted Norvell.

A majority of those starters come from the offensive side of the ball for the Yellow Jackets. That’s the unit where they made the most improvement last season. In 2023, Georgia Tech had a Top-50 offense that averaged 31.1 points and nearly 425 yards per game. That starts with QB Haynes King coming off his best collegiate season along with several weapons and linemen also back.

“Offensively, it was one of the top offenses in the league,” said Norvell. “You know, I think you look at their quarterback, Haynes King? He’s definitely a challenge. Everything runs through him. They’ve got speedy receivers, guys that can separate. You know, Haynes. The running back is definitely a dynamic player, averaged over six yards per carry, over 1,000-yard back.”

“I mean it’s going to present plenty of challenges in just what they do and how they do it,” Norvell said. “You know, I think this is going to be one of the more explosive teams that we play.”

Georgia Tech will now look to develop even further on the defensive side too under DC Tyler Santucci.

“Defensively, they have a new defensive coordinator that came from Duke last year, which, I mean, was one of the better defenses there in the country,” said Norvell. “I mean, with a great scheme then a lot of transfers that have come in to be able to support, compliment those guys that they have up front. Then, you know, obviously on the back end as well.”

Norvell recognizes the difficulty of opening, especially on another continent, against a league opponent such as this one in Georgia Tech. That’s why he wants Florida State focused on giving a full game’s effort this weekend in order to start their new season at 1-0.

“It’s going to be a great challenge for us,” said Norvell. “You know, it’s going to take us going out there and make sure we’re playing with details but discipline. Then give everything that we have for 60 minutes.”