FSU football: Potential recruiting strategy to finish 2022 class

Spring Portal

Ideally, spring enrollees would be the most beneficial, but it’s possible to have impact players join the program in the summer. Notre Dame offensive lineman transfer Dillan Gibbons is a prime example who didn’t enter the portal until May 6 of this year.

Gibbons enrolled at FSU football in the summer and went on to be one of FSU’s most important players at the position.

Some would argue he was the best offensive lineman, despite playing injured most of the year. Usually, players that hit the portal in the spring are upperclassmen that get passed up on the depth chart by younger players.

It doesn’t mean they are terrible players, but that’s when it comes down to evaluations and due diligence by the coaching staff. These players usually have a couple of years under their belt, so that experience is helpful when learning new offensive or defensive schemes.

That college experience usually means they are physically ready to play and can make more of an impact than freshmen. It’s why the coaching staff went the route they did last year with positions like the defensive end.

The addition of Johnson and Thomas allowed the younger players time to develop in the strength and conditioning program. It also meant FSU would be more competitive on the field.

All you have to do is ask yourself where the team would have been if the coaching staff didn’t sign those transfers? If FSU has several spots left after the spring semester begins, look for them to target several players that enter the portal once spring practices end.