Kirk Herbstreit expects people to be impressed by Florida State, DJ Uiagalelei in 2024

Florida State lost a ton of talent off of last year’s roster, including star quarterback Jordan Travis. However, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit doesn’t expect much of a drop off, if one at all, in 2024.

Herbstreit joined SportsCenter Saturday morning ahead of FSU’s season opener against Georgia Tech and shared that he believes the Seminoles are once again loaded, with quarterback DJ Uiagalelei leading the way.

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Herbstreit feels that Florida State head coach Mike Norvell deserves a ton of credit.

“Well, first you have to start with Mike Norvell and what he’s done with building this program back up,” Herbstreit said. “Just a few years ago there were a lot of Florida State fans that wanted him removed. But he did a heck of a job of building this thing up and really it was on the shoulders of Jordan Travis.”

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FSU was coming off of back-to-back losing seasons when Norvell took over in 2020. Following losing seasons in each of his first two years, Florida State responded by winning 10 games in 2022 and going 13-1 in 2023, just missing out on a berth in the College Football Playoff.

The emergence of Jordan Travis and the way he was developed under Norvell played a pivotal role in FSU becoming the top team in the ACC last year.

Herbstreit is anxious to see if Florida State can stay at the top of the ACC with DJ Uiagalelei leading the way.

“Jordan Travis, not just his ability to make plays. But it was really his leadership that made Florida State the team that they’ve been these last few years,” Herbstreit said. “So now you pass the baton to DJ Uiagalelei, who’s got really, really rare physical traits. I think he’s really grown up with his trip to Clemson, out to Oregon State, now back to the ACC with the chance to play for Florida State.”

The good news for Uiagalelei is that Florida State has put a ton of talent around him. The Seminoles are loaded on both sides of the ball this season as they look to repeat as ACC champions.

“One thing you know about Mike Norvell, he lost a lot of ability. But what’s brought back this year is a ton of talent,” Herbstreit said. “They’ve done a really good job through the portal of being probably the most skilled team again in the ACC, despite all those losses.

“Think about some of those players that are now in the NFL. And he’s been able to replace them through the portal. I think people will be impressed when they see the athletic ability around DJ and what they can do.”