Florida State riding recent momentum on the recruiting trail

Florida State was arguably the biggest surprise of the 2023 college football season.

In their fourth season under head coach Mike Norvell, the Seminoles capped off an undefeated regular season with a 16-6 victory against Louisville in the ACC Championship Game.

Most expected 13-0 FSU to land a berth in the College Football Playoff. But it didn't happen, as the Seminoles became the first undefeated Power Five team to be left out, with the selection committee citing a season-ending injury to star quarterback Jordan Travis as the primary reason for the snub.

It was a crushing blow for Florida State, which subsequently played without nearly 30 scholarship players, including multiple starters, against Georgia in the Orange Bowl. And the Bulldogs, who had also felt slighted by the CFP committee, took advantage, winning 63-3.

FSU's offseason has also proved to be tumultuous, as it remains involved in a highly publicized legal battle with the ACC. The Seminoles are exploring ways to leave the struggling conference for greener pastures, with the "green" in this case being an apt description for more money via conference payout.

All said, there will be lots of eyes on Tallahassee in August when summer camp gets started, as observers will be interested to see if the Seminoles can repeat last season's success and once again contend for a playoff berth.

With football season just around the corner, and in spite of how last season ended, there's plenty to be excited about when it comes to Florida State, which is riding the momentum of its on-field results a year ago on the recruiting trail.

The Seminoles put together a high-quality 2024 recruiting class, a group that ranked 12th nationally by 247Sports, and added some key pieces via the transfer portal as well.

And the last week has seen Norvell and his staff load up with pledges from top 2025 prospects. Since Monday, FSU has secured commitments from four-star defensive lineman Kevin Wynn, four-star wide receiver CJ Wiley, four-star defensive lineman Myron Charles and three-star tight end Chase Loftin.

Additionally, quarterback recruit Tramell Jones Jr., who had been a soft commit to the Seminoles, announced this week that he was closing down his recruitment in favor of FSU, and Florida State also added a verbal pledge from one of the top QBs in the 2026 class, as four-star California prospect Brady Smigiel committed to the Noles on June 22.

The recruiting momentum could well continue Sunday night, as four-star safety Gregory "Zae" Thomas is expected to choose between FSU and ACC rival Clemson.

Whether or not FSU can emerge as a national title contender this fall remains to be seen. But after a couple of shaky seasons to begin his tenure in Tallahassee, it appears that Norvell has found his footing.

And with the young talent that Florida State is stockpiling and the resources that FSU has at its disposal, it's a good bet that the Seminoles will be firmly remerging in the coming years as one of college football's most successful programs and biggest brands.