Mike Norvell says star players emerging as even better leaders this offseason

In college football you often only get as far as your star players take you. So it helps to have a lot of star players, guys capable of pushing the envelope. Florida State appears to have a handful.

Perhaps most impressively, coach Mike Norvell says his stars like quarterback Jordan Travis and edge defender Jared Verse have only continued to get better this offseason.

“It’s about the little things,” Norvell said. “You could sit there and you watch a player and you see production, you see obviously the flash plays. We’re looking to see that incremental growth. And for guys that have been highly productive, where can they continue to either keep that edge or set the edge for where they’re going?”

Both Travis and Verse already command a high degree of respect with their teammates. The numbers alone demand that for both star players.

If Florida State is going to get where it wants to go in 2023, repeating that 10-win season and potentially reaching the College Football Playoff, it’ll need the absolute best version of Travis.

Travis threw for 3,214 yards with 24 touchdowns and five interceptions last season, while also rushing for 417 yards and seven scores.

“I think the consistency with Jordan, the confidence, really taking another step within the offense and the playmakers that he has around him, how they can support him and support us to being the best that we can be (is key),” Norvell said.

Then there’s Verse, the former Albany transfer.

Verse logged 47 tackles, 9.0 sacks and a fumble recovery last season for the Seminoles, all while fighting through various injuries.

“When you look at Jared, yes, dynamic player,” Norvell said. “But last year he had to battle through so many injuries and really there was a lot of practice time that he wasn’t available, and so really getting down to the finer fundamentals. And he has embraced that and did a wonderful job in spring, both of those guys.”

If Florida State is going to make a run, it’ll need its star players on point.

The good news is that’s exactly what seems to be happening this offseason for the Seminoles. The star players have taken charge and are leading the team.

“That’s really given a lot of push to our team in general when some of your best players are improving at that rate, everybody wants to be a part of that,” Norvell said. “It’s really pushing the standard of who we are and what we want to be.”