FSU football: 3 defensive backs Patrick Surtain Sr. hire could impact
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football will likely officially announce the hire of the new defensive secondary coach Patrick Surtain Sr. soon. Reports broke about a week ago that the Noles would make that transition once Surtain Sr.’s playoff run with the Miami Dolphins ended.
Well, they lost to the Buffalo Bills Sunday, and FSU fans were already asking what plane he would be on to Tallahassee. It’s a hire that created a lot of buzz around the program from recruits, fans, and media pundits.
Norvell was looking for a guy that could develop players but also needed a big-time recruiter on the staff to help Alex Atkins and John Papuchis, who seem to have been carrying the load the last couple of years. Ron Dugans found his in-state mojo again for the 2023 recruiting class.
But FSU needed help in-state, where Patrick Surtain Sr. should make the biggest impact, South Florida. The Noles have plucked a few quality players from that area in recent years, but when FSU is working at optimal levels, they have been able to get whoever they want.
The way FSU looked on the field in 2022? The trajectory supports that beginning to happen again, and quality defensive backs have always been a staple for FSU recruiting at an elite level.
Let’s look at three highly-ranked 2024 players Patrick Surtain Sr.’s hire could impact.