FSU football: 2023 transfer class poised to make biggest impact yet
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football has become known as Transfer Portal U due to its success with transfer portal players in the Mike Norvell era. Norvell and the staff have signed double-digit players from the transfer portal in every recruiting class since arriving in December 2020.
Pundits and rival fans would joke about Florida State’s lower high school rankings in those seasons, but failing to understand players from the portal would help the Noles turn things around much quicker than waiting on high school players to develop.
The key to FSU’s success in the portal has been unbelievable evaluations, both physical and cultural fit. It’s why you’ve seen players like Fabien Lovett, Jermaine Johnson, Keir Thomas, Dillan Gibbons, and Jammie Robinson emerge as team leaders in their time in Tallahassee.
The transfer portal classes have gradually gotten better in every recruiting class. The 2020 class produced two All-ACC players.
The 2021 class produced four All-ACC players, including the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Jermaine Johnson, and the 2022 class had six All-ACC performers.
The latter had three players that would have likely been starters, and possible All-ACC selections had they not missed the season due to injury.
As great as the past few classes have been, it’s the 2023 transfer class that’s poised to make the greatest impact.