FSU football: Will Noles benefit from NCAA eligibility ruling?

FSU football has historically sent a lot of players to the NFL. Will the NCAA’s ruling about eligibility make some players think twice about leaving early?

FSU football head coach Mike Norvell inherited a lot of upper-classmen talent when he took over in December 2019.

However, one of the negatives was he was only going to have most of that talent for one year.

There were some like Marvin Wilson, Tamorrion Terry, and Cory Durden that could have left after the 2019 season but decided to come back and play for Mike Norvell in 2020.

The NCAA passes a ruling Friday that would allow all of those players and the other players on the team to play a full season in 2020 and not lose a year of eligibility.

I think there’s zero chance any of those three players coming back in 2021. There are other seniors like Emmett Rice, Janarius Robinson, Joshua Kaindoh, and Baveon Johnson, who could theoretically come back.

Players like graduate transfers Meiko Dotson and Devonta Love-Taylor could come back and play in 2021 too. I mention the latter because he’s at a huge position of need at offensive tackle.

It’ll be interesting to see how the fall schedule shakes out. If can play the majority of the games, I’d have to think players who believe they’ll be drafted in a favorable position will still leave for the NFL. That would involve players like Asante Samuel Jr and possibly Jashaun Corbin if he has a big year in 2020.

It depends on who stays and goes, but this rule does allow Norvell to potentially keep some much needed talented in Tallahasse an extra year. However, it’s going to be a mess for coaching staffs recruiting wise.

They’ll need to figure out who’s staying and going while trying to fill positional needs through recruiting.

There’s no telling how the season will unfold, but it’s one thing the NCAA has gotten right.