FSU football: Why winning has been the ultimate recruiting elixir

Prime Example

Let’s take a look at the recruits Alex Atkins has signed:

2021
-Rod Orr(No. 330 player overall, blue-chip)
-Bryson Estes (No. 571 player overall, three-star)
-Dillan Gibbons(transfer portal, career back up at Notre Dame)

2022
-Julian Armella (No. 152 player overall, blue-chip)
-Qae’shon Sapp (No. 356 player overall, blue-chip)
-Jaylen Early (No. 366 player overall, blue-chip)
-Daughtry Richardson (No. 578 player overall, three-star)
-Kanaya Charlton (No national rank, three-star)
-Jazeston Turnetine(transfer portal, an unheralded player from South Carolina)
-D’Mitri Emmanuel(transfer portal, solid player from Charlotte)
-Kayden Lyles (transfer portal, player with injury history from Wisconsin)
-Bless Harris (transfer portal player from Lamar)

2023
-Lucas Simmons (No. 113 player overall, blue-chip)
-Andre Otto (No. 773 player overall, three-star)
-Keiondre Jones (transfer portal, former starter at Auburn and former HS blue-chip)
-Jeremiah Byers (transfer portal, All-Conference player)
-Casey Roddick (transfer portal, former starter at Colorado)

Notice how as FSU football improves on the field, even Alex Atkins is able to attract a better type of player? That’s not to take anything away from Atkins, who’s been a beast for FSU on the trail. However, it doesn’t matter how good the salesman is if the product isn’t any good. Plus, you can’t sell someone (an elite player) a Chevrolet Malibu (average program) when they’re in the market for a Lamborghini (elite program).