FSU football lost its top commitment from its 2026 high school recruiting class a few weeks ago when four-star quarterback Brady Smigiel backed off his pledge.
Smigiel committed to the Noles in the summer of 2024 when Alex Atkins was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.
However, Mike Norvell called the plays, and Smigiel mentioned that as one of the main reasons he backed away from his commitment.
He thinks FSU hiring Guz Malzahn as the offensive coordinator and calling the plays is a totally different offense. Check out what he says below:
"It changed everything"
— Josh Newberg (@josh_newberg) February 7, 2025
4⭐️ QB @BradySmigiel explains why he backed off his commitment to FSU and re-opened his recruitment.
MORE: https://t.co/fa9JLDsIuA pic.twitter.com/qNudraUDp8
I find that hard to believe, considering how poor the offensive line play was and FSU couldn't run the ball well under Alex Atkins the past two years.
My thing is, it's not a totally different offense and the coaching staff will build the offense around what he does well. He's a pocket passer that can move if he has to. If you're a quarterback who can pass the ball well, that means you likely don't need to run the quarterback as much.
Also, how can you not look at quarterbacks in the NFL and think you won't have to run the ball some? Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson all run the ball several times each game in the NFL.
Jordan Travis ran the ball several times a game while under Mike Norvell at FSU. I don't know, but FSU will be fine, and I'm sure Smigiel will find somewhere he thinks is a better fit.
However, people saying FSU is going to run a totally different offense under Gus Malzahn is patently false.