Mike Norvell has a new team on his hands in 2024, but there’s quite a bit of pain still in Tallahassee over the way last season ended and how the Seminoles manage those emotions will go a long way in determining how successful they are in the new year.
In a brief appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay Saturday morning, the FSU head coach said his team has put its head down and embraced the grind this offseason.
“This is a new year, it’s a new opportunity. You grow from every experience,” Norvell said. “Every experience you’re willing to go through, you’re willing to pour your heart into it, you’re willing to work through the highs and the lows, it gives you an opportunity to showcase your identity, what’s at the core of you. Since January, since we’ve gotten back, our team has truly just embraced the work.
“Everything we’ve thrown at them, all the things we’ve tried to put in front of them, they’ve just kept such a wonderful mindset. They’ve made the investments, they’ve come together as a wonderful team and brotherhood since that point. This is what you do at Florida (State).”
Mike Norvell reflects on how this Florida State team has grown stronger after being left out of the CFP last year pic.twitter.com/z5GyGWcGfD
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) August 24, 2024
The most visible change is at quarterback, where Florida State moves on from Jordan Travis — a true program great — and turns the page to the DJ Uiagalelei era. The former Clemson and Oregon State quarterback has seen it all throughout his career. He backed up Trevor Lawrence on a Clemson team that went to the College Football Playoff. He was The Guy to replace Lawrence, and then he was unseated by another. He transferred, he saw his coach leave, and he transferred again.
In terms of experience, Florida State can lean on its new quarterback for perspective.
And the defensive changes, however significant, might not affect the bottom line all that much. Patrick Payton, Joshua Farmer, Darrell Jackson Jr., and Marvin Jones Jr. could very well be one of the best defensive lines in the country. Three starters leave in the secondary, but Norvell has used to portal well in recent years to ensure the drop-off isn’t a worry.
Florida State went 13-1 last season, winning the ACC and putting itself in a position to make the CFP. They were excluded and then smashed in the Orange Bowl by Georgia.
FSU opens its 2024 campaign on Saturday against Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland. The Seminoles are +190 to make the CFP (DraftKings).
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Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
