Recruiting is the lifeblood of any college football program, but the transfer portal and unlimited transfers have changed the game until some guardrails are put in place (if that ever happens). The days of building programs from high school recruiting are over because players can transfer whenever they want.
A gazillion former top high school players entered the transfer portal over the past two years after only one year at the place that signed them out of high school. Since that information is known, colleges should adopt a recruiting strategy that takes that into account.
I’ve said for years that certain positions take at least 1-2 years before players can contribute in college. Quarterback, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, and tight end would fall into that category.
Defensive backs, running backs, defensive ends, and linebackers can contribute earlier if they are physically ready and enroll in the spring. Knowing this information, FSU should take a different approach to its high school recruiting strategy.
Related Story: One Cheap Way Florida State Can Add Talent From Transfer Portal
The days of developing quarterbacks from the high school ranks are over. I wouldn’t waste time spending big money on a top quarterback. Most aren’t ready to play as freshmen, or even redshirt freshmen, and will transfer anyway if they don’t play early. I wouldn’t spend big money on wide receivers, tight ends, or interior offensive linemen, either.
All of those positions can be filled with transfer portal players who are physically ready to play and have proven production.
Where would I spend the money in the high school ranks?
I’d spent it on offensive tackles, defensive tackles, defensive ends, a top running back, linebackers, and defensive secondary. Those are the positions that seem to be the hardest to find top players in the transfer portal over the past two years. Winning in the trenches is a big part of winning football games. The better teams are in the trenches, the more room for error at quarterback and the back seven on defense.
If you look at teams that played for the National Championship over the past two years. They win in the trenches. They didn’t have a special talent at quarterback. They can run the ball, get after the quarterback, and stop the run game.
If Florida State were better at rushing the passer, they probably win at least 3-4 more games in 2025. That’s the difference between 5-7 and 9-3 at worst.
Florida State has been spending too much money on high school players who make minimal impact. That strategy bit them in the butt in this last transfer portal recruiting cycle, and that's why they couldn’t go after top talent. They had too much money tied up in the 30+ players signed from the high school ranks.
They should spend the money in the trenches from the high school ranks. Take the best defensive and offensive tackles and EDGE guys they can get and build from there.
FSU has four commits in its 2027 recruiting class. They have two safeties, a linebacker, and a tight end. It’s still early in the recruiting class, but notice what’s already missing?