It's hard to deny that Mike Norvell is in a slump. Last season, he struggled to win games, despite coming off an undefeated season, and now, he's missing out on blue-chip recruits that used to be sure locks for him.
Most recently, five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell, the No. 4 wideout in the class of 2026, passed up on the Florida State Seminoles for a different team in the ACC. That team? Well, let's just say it's a little embarrassing for a five-star to choose this program over the 'Noles.
Russell committed to the Syracuse Orange. Yes, the program is located in the middle of nowhere, upstate New York, where it seemingly snows for weeks on end. He chose Syracuse over Florida State, in sunny Tallahassee, which also happens to be Russell's home state.
The five-star wide receiver is from Opa-locka, FL, just a seven-hour drive from the Seminoles' home base at Doak S. Campbell Stadium.
BREAKING: Five-Star WR Calvin Russell has Committed to Syracuse, he tells me for @rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 6, 2025
The 6’5 200 WR chose the Orange over Michigan, Florida State, & Oregon
He’s the highest-ranked recruit to commit to Syracuse in the past 20 years
“FRAN BROWN!!!”https://t.co/CicMLyvwqr pic.twitter.com/P2QPwtqCKz
Russell also chose the Orange over the Michigan Wolverines, who won the National Championship just two years ago, and the Oregon Ducks, who were consistently the No. 1 team in the nation last season.
Why is Mike Norvell struggling to recruit?
To put it simply, choosing Syracuse over any of these powerhouse programs should make the Seminoles and Norvell extremely nervous. If the Orange can start poaching players from the Seminoles' stomping grounds, who is to stop anyone in the country from doing the exact same thing?
Not to mention, Syracuse finished with a 10-3 overall record last season, including a win over the Miami Hurricanes. Florida State finished 2-10. If Norvell starts to fail to bring in recruiting classes that could turn records around, the Seminoles are looking at really big problems, especially in the ACC.
Even Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has started to utilize the transfer portal, as well as continuing his success at recruiting, bringing in top-tier classes for the Tigers. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal might be under watch for tampering, but he at least still brought in a top-15 class last year.
Norvell and the Seminoles were put on notice when Russell committed to the Orange. Now, the entire country is watching even more closely to see what Florida State does next.