Identifying Florida State freshmen ready to make immediate impact

Mike Norvell recruited a strong 2024 class off the backs of an undefeated regular season and ACC Championship. Florida State was the No. 12 class per the On3 Industry Team Rankings, good enough for second in the ACC. Folks in Tallahassee, specifically Jeff Cameron of On3’s Warchant, believe there are some real impact true freshmen available.

“I think by the midseason report card, we’ll be looking at the freshmen receivers — perhaps a sophomore in Hykeem Williams,” Cameron said during Wednesday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “We’re going to be looking at those guys and saying ‘Well, there’s the future for Florida State. It’s not any seniors or juniors. It’s in the freshman and sophomores.'”

Outside of Williams — the No. 34 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class — the two names mentioned by Cameron were Elijah Moore and Lawayne McCoy. The duo are both blue-chip prospects and ranked No. 178 and No. 203, respectively, in the ’24 class.

Those are the guys who could wind up catching passes from DJ Uiagalelei by mid-October. None are even in the two-deep released by Florida State ahead of the Georgia Tech game, all being the third player listed at their respective positions. In the case of Williams, there is an OR attached to his name.

Florida State fall camp reports have shown wide receiver is not a strong suit at the moment. Things have gotten better right before flying across the Atlantic to Dublin but the veteran guys are not shining enough, potentially leaving the door open for the young pups.

“I think the biggest question mark about Florida State this year are the starting wide receivers,” Cameron said. “I think that that’s a group that will really have to show and improve because it’s been an uneven camp for them. They’ve had moments in the last week, which is a good sign for this offense.”

Figuring out wide receiver was always going to be difficult for Florida State after last year’s bunch. Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson were the two leading receivers in 2023 and are now in the NFL. Even tight end Juice Wells made a big impact but he was a seventh-round pick of the New England Patriots.

The freshmen receivers may not make their presence felt right away, needing to get some college reps under their belt. But Cameron believes once settled in, we might be talking about them as the present and future of Florida State.