After receiving a commitment from blue-chip defensive lineman Sam LeJeune last week, Mike Norvell is hoping to close out the summer offseason strong and boost up the rankings of the 2027 recruiting class. But before we look ahead to what the future will bring, let's look back at the times that Norvell and the Seminoles staff hit on HS recruits.
After going through each season of classes since Norvell arrived in 2020, we chose one player from each class that really stood out:
2025: Mandrell Desir, DL (3-star)
This was a no-brainer. Desir was a Freshman All-American and led the Seminoles with 6.5 sacks. He finished second in the voting for ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and the sack total was one of the best marks for a true freshman Seminole, next to Ron Simmons and Brian Burns. That's good company to be in and Desir is a clear building block for at least the next two seasons.
READ MORE: Mandrell Desir says the words that every FSU fan wants to hear
2024: Micahi Danzy, WR (4-star)
The highest-rated class in Norvell's tenure (11th nationally) has not panned out like fans hoped, but Danzy is a stud. He was listed as a running back in his recruitment, but he's primarily a wide receiver that can put the fear of defenses when the ball is in his hands. Danzy averaged 20.2 yards per touch (!!) last season and is the undisputed big-play threat on the roster. There is a lot of talk about Ousmane Kromah and Duce Robinson, but I believe Danzy is the guy in this offense.
MICAHI DANZY! THE TRACK STAR FROM TALLAHASSEE! TOUCHDOWN TO TAKE THE LEAD!!! pic.twitter.com/z9vqHFucf2
— Clay Fink (@clay_fink) August 30, 2025
2023: Ja'Bril Rawls, CB (3-star)
Rawls made a huge jump as a redshirt sophomore even though he missed a handful of games with injuries. He had 40 tackles, 2 PBUs and an interception last year while providing a strong presence in the secondary. Another strong season should lead to an NFL Draft selection.
READ MORE: Major takeaways from Ja'Bril Rawls deciding to come back to FSU for 2026
2022: Azareye'h Thomas, CB (4-star)
Thomas remains the highest draft pick of the HS players recruited under Norvell, a third-round selection (73rd overall pick) by the New York Jets of the 2025 NFL Draft. He was a model of consistency over three seasons and, truthfully, deserved a spot on one of the All-ACC teams in 2024, but didn't get the nod because the Seminoles had such a poor season. The irony of Thomas' recruitment is that he was viewed by some fans as a fall back after the Travis Hunter recruitment fell apart on signing day, but he turned out to be an excellent player.
2021: Joshua Farmer, DL (3-star)
Farmer was the second-highest draft pick among the HS players recruited under Norvell, going to the New England Patriots in the fourth round (137th overall pick) in the 2025 draft. He was solid throughout and a bit of a reminder of the defensive linemen that FSU fans have known to come through the program over the years. Farmer thrived in 2023 with seven TFLs and five sacks, playing with Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, but he came to play in 2024 as well with eight TFLs and four sacks.Â
2020: Ja'Khi Douglas, ATH (3-star)
OK, this was a strange class because Norvell inherited some recruits that committed over the summer of 2019 to Willie Taggart, like running back Lawrence Toafili, so I wanted to keep this to the guys he pulled when he arrived in Tallahassee, and Douglas was the best of the bunch. I thought Douglas was always a little underutilized and possibly should have gotten more of the opportunities that Mycah Pittman received in 2022. When he did get on the field, he was a solid player and the only real reliable receiver on the 2024 team (32 catches, 519 yards, four touchdowns). Douglas was also the consummate teammate that always came to work.Â
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