FSU football: Could Eddie Gran help Mike Norvell in Tallahassee?

FSU football could use someone with great Florida ties on the staff.

FSU football is looking to close out its 2021 recruiting class on a strong note. The Noles have the No. 31 ranked recruiting class nationally with 15 commitments and room for 10-11 more.

One of the knocks on Mike Norvell’s staff is the lack of recruiting ties to the state of Florida. It’s true Ron Dugans, and Odell Haggins has experience in-state, but the majority of the staff have better relationships elsewhere.

Those relationships are one of the primary reasons you see FSU recruiting players in places like Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arizona. Mike Norvell was doing a great job pre-pandemic with getting players and coaches on campus, along with hosting a meet and greet events for coaches across the state.

However, it’s been difficult for the staff to establish relationships in-state with the NCAA preventing in-person recruiting due to COVID-19. Those restrictions have been extended through April 2021, which means it’s going to continue to be difficult to cultivate the relationships needed.

Enter Eddie Gran.

Eddie Gran was fired (it was a mutual agreement) from his post as offensive coordinator at Kentucky on Sunday. If you haven’t been an FSU football fan for long, Gran was an important piece of Jimbo Fisher’s initial staff after becoming head coach in January 2010.

Gran presided over running backs and special teams while at FSU from 2010-2012. I think he may have been named offensive coordinator, but Jimbo Fisher was calling the plays, the same way Mike Norvell will at FSU.

Gran’s track record speaks for itself when it comes to producing great running backs, and FSU special teams were among the best in the nation under his guidance. However, more importantly, is his ability to identify talent and recruit. He’s an ace recruiter in the state of Florida(in
particularly south Florida) and would be a significant upgrade in that area.

Florida State could also likely get him on the cheap because he signed an extension with Kentucky in December 2019:

"Through the remainder of the current contract year Gran is set to make $75,000 each month through June 2021. His monthly salary from July 2021 through June 2022 was to be $77,083.33, or a total of $925,000."

There are two FSU coaches with contracts that will expire within a month. If Mike Norvell does not have plans to renew one of those contacts, I think Eddie Gran should be one of the first names to call.