FSU Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

For the top programs in college football, recruiting players from across the country is often vital to the team’s success. But for Florida State, targeting players close to home is a priority.

According to head coach Mike Norvell, recruiting players from near Tallahassee is a point of emphasis in the team’s recruiting strategy.

“It’s obviously huge to be able to have those guys that are so close in proximity to come in and be a part of this program,” Norvell said according to On3. “I mean, it’s special for them. It’s special for their families. It’s special for Florida State. You look through the history of our program, and all the great players that are local, that are in that Big Bend area in South Georgia, that’s why four years ago coming in it’s been such a big emphasis.”

That strategy can be seen in action with this year’s recruiting class. Of the 22 players that are in the team’s 2024 high school recruiting class, 17 of those players are from either the state of Florida or neighboring Georgia.

“And it’s one thing to sign a player from an area,” Norvell said. “It’s another thing to go get the best players from those areas. And to be able to do that here locally, to be able to do that within the states of Florida and Georgia, I mean, it’s big for our program. So, I’m really proud of our staff. I’m proud of all the work that’s gone into it. Our players, our current players do such a great job of really selling the opportunity that’s here.”

We’ll have to see how this strategy works out for Florida State in the coming years.

[On3]