Slowly but surely, Mike Norvell is finding his recruiting groove

It's been a process that has featured a lot of frustrating developments for FSU fans, but Mike Norvell is starting to establish a better reputation with his high school recruiting.

This isn't to say Norvell is at the level that FSU fans expect. He isn't close to being what Bobby Bowden was, nor has he shown the ability to stack top classes like Jimbo Fisher did. But Norvell's recruiting was once considered a liability, and now it looks much more competitive with the top 20 power four programs.

Some of this could be credited to the staff changes made during the offseason. Norvell dumped both coordinators and several assistants. Former co-defensive coordinator Adam Fuller was a huge weakness on the trail and that's putting kindly. In general, it wasn't a staff that struck fear in opposing staffs when it came time for recruiting battles.

Coming off of a 2-10 seasonand few holdovers on the staff, Norvell had to take recruiting into his own hands for the early signing period. He closed strongly enough to push the Seminoles from the 53rd-rated class into the top 20. The strong close included flipping running back Osumane Kromah from Georgia.

As we approach training camp, recruiting has continued to ride the momentum from that December surge. The Seminoles currently have a top-15 recruiting class that was one time rated as high as ninth. FSU had an amazing June, with 13 commitments, and added four-star defensive lineman Earnest Rankins on July 2.

Now it's time for Norvell to land the big one

FSU has yet to have a top-10 recruiting class under Norvell and four of Norvell's five classes have finished outside the top 15. It goes without saying that FSU has to live inside the top ten with recruiting. Norvell can't rely on the transfer portal to build rosters anymore. There needs to be a good foundation of high school talent on the roster to avoid future repeats of 2024.

This holiday weekend has already brought a couple recruiting disappointments. Three-star edge rusher Chris Addison, who a week ago you might've placed in FSU's class with a pen, committed to Michigan State on Friday. Another target, blue-chip wide receiver Calvin Russell, had FSU in his top group, but committed to Syracuse on Saturday. And cornerback Brody Jennings, who was also on FSU's radar, flipped from Michigan to Miami.

However, FSU's biggest target of the weekend, five-star defensive back Chauncey Kennon, will make his announcement Sunday evening and is reported to be a lean to the 'Nples over Miami, Georgia, Florida and LSU. If the recently committed U.S. Navy All-American chooses the FSU, he would be the second composite five-star prospect to commit to Norvell during his tenure. 

FSU might not get a top-10 class this year, but adding Kennon should almost assure that Norvell's sixth class in Tallahassee will stay inside the top 15. Coming off of last season's disaster, the work Norvell and staff have done on the trail should be acknowledged.

But it can still get better and for FSU to be a championship program again, it must get better.