Florida State has a reputation for not developing high school players under Mike Norvell, though most of the staff is relatively new now, and that doesn’t apply to them. However, that perception still lingers because Mike Norvell is the head coach.
There’s some truth to the narrative, but I’d argue one of the biggest contributors to that is the lack of patience with today’s young players. Former FSU linebacker DeMarco Ward, who left FSU after two seasons, is a prime example. Ward left FSU and transferred to Memphis for the 2025 season.
He finished the 2025 season with 63 tackles, two interceptions, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one QB hurry. Ward parlayed that production into an opportunity to enter the transfer portal and sign with the Pittsburgh Panthers:
Pitt has landed a commitment from former Memphis star linebacker DeMarco Ward, @APSportsAgency tells me, @chris_hummer and @CodyNagel247.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 10, 2026
Ward, who began his career at Florida State, posted 63 tackles and two pick-sixes this season. pic.twitter.com/D9FZ50MPqF
Now, for context, the AAC conference is a step below the ACC, so let’s take that into consideration. Ward also played more of a strong safety role at Memphis instead of linebacker. It was his third year in college, so it was time to take that next step and produce. Could he have done that if he had stayed at FSU? It’s possible, but I’m not sure he can play safety at a higher level.
Maybe he didn’t think he fit in Tony White’s scheme, or they told him to leave? Both of those scenarios are possibilities.
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However, the point of the matter is that it takes time for players to develop, especially if you are an undersized player out of high school. The majority of the players who have entered the transfer portal at FSU consist of guys who leave after one or two seasons. Most college players take at least that long to develop physically and figure out their roles on the team. It’s why you didn’t see players get on the field until their junior seasons back in the day. To his credit, Ward is one of the few former players to go elsewhere and produce, no matter the level of competition. Will he produce at Pitt? There’s a solid shot because Pat Narduzzi has a track record of producing good defenses.