FSU football: Why 2024 spring has been best first month of any offseason in Mike Norvell's career

Veterans/Culture

The FSU football program lost a lot of veteran leadership from the 2023 team. Jordan Travis was the heart and soul. Trey Benson, Kalen DeLoach, Fabien Lovett, Jarrian Jones, and Johnny Wilson were all leaders with proven production on the field. The latter is needed so other players will trust you to lead. It's one reason the coaching staff was selective with who they took from the transfer portal. Yes, they wanted the best talent possible but knew they needed talented veterans with proven production. When you get players like that, it doesn't take long before they separate themselves at practice, and folks begin to fall in line. DJ Uiagalelei has a proven track record and played in a lot of big games.

All of the Alabama players come from a program with a high standard. Sione Lolohei was an All-Conference performer. Grady Kelly and Jaylin Lucas were Freshmen All-Americans. Jalen Brown and Marvin Jones Jr. were big-time high school recruits who signed with big-time programs with a winning tradition. The FSU veterans know what the FSU standard is, and the new transfers understand what the standard is because Mike Norvell and the staff evaluate to make sure they are the right fit. It's one reason FSU has had so much success in the portal. They recruit for the right fit physically and from a cultural standpoint.