A potential coaching hire with a brother on FSU’s staff decided to go to a rival team instead of FSU, according to multiple reports. FAU's defensive backs coach, Brandon Harris, was reportedly going to replace departed Patrick Surtain Jr. as the new FSU defensive backs coach.
Harris has familiarity with FSU after working on Mike Norvell's staff early in his career. However, it looks like Harris will take the same position with the rival Florida Gators.
The move surprised FSU fans, but it’s a common-sense move. One program has a coach with a new car smell, offering greater stability in the long term, and the other should have been fired two years ago, a couple of months ago, and probably after the 2026 season unless some drastic improvements take place on the field.
This is something I pointed out a few weeks ago when I provided four reasons why FSU couldn't afford to bring Mike Norvell back for the 2026 season. Opposing teams will use the position that Mike Norvell is in against him all year. If programs are using the sentiment that Norvell probably doesn't make it past the 2026 season at FSU, what do you think they're telling recruits right now?
Norvell still hasn't made changes at several coaching positions that need major changes. They don't have a general manager, and the transfer portal will open in a couple of weeks. It's a program that doesn't have its ducks in a row and isn't an attractive place to go for many people right now.
The only way this changes is if FSU wins on the field, but they can't play any games for almost nine months. That'll be nine months opposing teams will hammer FSU with negativity as long as MIke Novell is the head coach.