Monday, August 25, 2025
Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Coach Mike Norvell
Press Conference
(In progress.)
MIKE NORVELL: …quality opponent, top 10 ranked team.
A lot of excitement around our program.
Looking forward to a big week of preparation. I like the
things that guys have done up to this point. We have got a
jump start on Alabama, and now it’s just about continuing
to grow and improve throughout this week so we can go
play at our best level come 3:45 on Saturday.
Q. As you’ve gone through camp and preseason, all
the good stuff, do you have a sense for what this team
is? What do you know about this team
personality-wise and even schematically?
MIKE NORVELL: I’ve been really pleased with the
competitiveness of this team in all situations that we’ve
tried to throw at them. It’s easy to say offense, defense,
special teams work, everything that they’re doing, growing
in our situational awareness, try to see guys that take
ownership in what they’re being asked to do on a specific
play, whether it’s coverage, run scheme, obviously
technique or fundamentals they have to use.
But really more the mentality about how they go into
executing that, and I really have liked the fight I’ve seen in
this team throughout our preseason workouts and really
since they got here in the off-season, stemming all the way
back from January, and I think that’s going to be a great
characteristic that’s needed and something that we were
looking for.
Obviously come Saturday, we’re going to get to see them
do that against another opponent. I do think this is a team
that has a lot of versatile playmakers. When you look on
both sides of the ball, guys that can align in different places
with what they’re being asked to do. I’m excited to see all
of it come together with the different combinations but also
the 11 guys that take the field to go get the job done.
Q. Chase Loftin listed as a wide receiver. I know you
guys have talked about his ability to flex out. Can you
paint the picture of how he can be used?
MIKE NORVELL: Chase is somebody that we’re really
excited about. Just from coming in in the spring to what he
was able to show, seeing how that’s been able to
transition, he’s a very natural route runner. He’s got great
explosiveness, ball skills. He’s a guy that really has earned
opportunity.
I love our tight end room with the guys that we have there,
and I think that Chase being able to put himself in this
position is a testament to his work and ability, and really
fired up to see what he’s going to be able to do throughout
the course of this season and starting here Saturday.
Q. We saw the video you guys put out on Tommy
breaking the rock at the end of camp. You knew what
a playmaker he was coming in. I know you knew him
personally from recruiting as well, but has he
exceeded any expectations? Has he been exactly what
you guys wanted since he came in?
MIKE NORVELL: We had very high expectations when he
joined the program of what he would bring. It’s easy to see
the athleticism, the skill, the games that he’s played, the
impact that he can make.
But what I’ve been just very proud of him for, just the
investment. The investment in others, the investment into
the program. He brings a great spirit into this building.
Whether it’s how he greets people walking in the door,
whether it’s the Extra Point Club ladies that are sitting at
the front to how he interacts with managers, trainers, his
teammates, the competitiveness that he brings, the
challenge that he presents. Just seeing when he steps on
the field, guys striving to be better.
You need that from that position. He’s definitely provided a
great spark for this team. I think guys have rallied with him
in this off-season, and definitely excited to play for him.
I think that Tommy has earned that throughout this time
here at Florida State, and I was really pleased to see him
break the rock. It was a pretty easy decision just watching
the way that he comes to work every day and what this
team and his teammates mean to him.
Q. Jayvan Boggs gets the starting receiver role. I
know you’ve talked about him throughout the
off-season, but what was it that truly separated him to
get that role so quickly
MIKE NORVELL: I think he’s been extremely productive.
From the spring to fall camp, you saw growth. He has
definitely got a wonderful skill set. But when he got his
opportunities, he’s capitalized on them.
He still has a lot of growth in front of him, but he’s put
himself in this position, and I think he’s earned the
opportunity.
Most freshmen that come in, they all want to play, and
they’ll say it. They’ll sound good. Some of them have the
ability and talent, but it just also carries over into the
mindset, carries over into making sure that you know what
to do, how to do it, and then the consistency of being
where you need to be and being able to execute when your
number is called.
I think Jayvan has done a really nice job of putting himself
in that position, and I’m excited to see him go compete on
game day.
Q. Two players who weren’t listed on the depth chart,
Lawayne McCoy, Kevin Wynn, are those injury related?
And health-wise going into Alabama, how are you
guys doing?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, those are two guys that will be out
this week. They’re expecting a relatively quick return, but
those are two guys that will not be available.
Q. One guy who did come back from injury later in the
fall was Jason Jenkins, and he gets a start. In that
short amount of time that you were able to see him out
there, what was it that stuck out so he could get that
starting job?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, he’s a violent player. You feel his
presence. We knew that whenever he was coming in.
Unfortunately it was delayed in person just with the injury
there in the spring, and having to kind of work through his
rehab process, but he attacked every day. I’ve used him
as an example. I think I’ve mentioned him and Jacob Rizzi,
both guys that had spring injuries that really had to bust
their tails to get back to have an opportunity in this game.
Both of them came back before what was initially thought
would be their return date, and for them to get live work in
that second scrimmage and for them to go out there and
function and really even in these last couple weeks just be
able to grow throughout — knocking some of the rust off
and just the technique, the fundamentals, the
communication, playing faster, I think both of those guys
have done a really impressive job in the controlling the
things that they can control and putting themselves in
position.
But I think Jason is a guy that I’m really looking forward to
seeing out there on the field. He brings a physicality and
an explosiveness that’s absolutely needed, and he plays
with an incredible motor.
Q. When we spoke to you in the final week of camp,
you mentioned the safety position. One of the safety
spots being what you were looking for. It looks like
Ashlynd Barker was listed. What did he do to
establish himself?
MIKE NORVELL: Ashlynd, I think he’s taken some
tremendous strides. He was a guy that when he came
here he was kind of limited just on overall experience. He
dealt with injury in high school, went to junior college, was
able to come in and really was learning on the run.
You’ve seen his growth. You saw some plays last year
that showed up in special teams, a little bit defensively, but
I think he’s playing with a lot of confidence. He’s got great
size, can run, definitely a physical presence. You see him,
I think K.J. Kirkland has continued to emerge. You’ll see
him a good amount here this weekend as well, a guy that
can play and play multiple positions. But it’s a competitive
group, and I think it’s a testament to the consistency of
what Ashlynd has done, but it’s also — we’ve got guys that
we’re very confident can play at a high level.
Q. With Randy Pittman, how good is he? How good
can he be? And is he better than maybe you thought
he was when he got here?
MIKE NORVELL: I think Randy, he’s an absolute
playmaker. He can do so many different things, whether
it’s alignment, whether it’s out wide, in the core. He’s got a
tremendous versatility of skills. I think that he has
absolutely grown even in his time here. You’ve seen his
playing techniques, fundamentals, allowing him to
maximize his size, his strength. A very powerful human
being.
Reminds me a lot just from the strength and power, really
kind of what we saw with Jaheim Bell, where he’s not the
biggest guy in the world, but he definitely plays with the
right mentality, can create space. When you look at him on
the perimeter, he’s got great ball skills, a guy that — he
knows his game. He knows his game really well. I think
he puts himself in a great position to be able to impact the
game because of that versatility.
I think when you look at that tight end room, it’s probably
one of the best positions that we have just with the
versatility of skills. Randy, Amaree, Landon, who it was
great to get him back these last couple weeks. He was out
for the first part of fall camp. Seeing Markeston and just
what he can do, which allowed us the flexibility with Chase,
who we talked about earlier, just to be able to kind of
transition him out to kind of solely focusing on receiver
because of that room.
I think those guys have done a great job, and Randy is
definitely a leader within it.
Q. When we talked to Coach Hand last week, he
mentioned some possible starters at some positions
but there will be also top backups at each position, so
you’re always trying to get your best five available on
the field. Is that something where you guys actually
map out all the contingencies, or is it just case by
case?
MIKE NORVELL: No, we’ve got a really good plan of if this
happens, this would have the mob. If that happens, this
would be the adjustment that kind of coincides with it.
I’ve been pleased with that offensive line group, and I’ve
been pleased with the competition. There’s still
competition. We have a week of preparation here in front
of us, and it still comes down to production. I’ve said that
to every position, every — what guys have done up to this
point, it’s wonderful. We can sit here and talk and feel
good about any statements that are made, but when you
step on the field, what’s getting done.
That’s a program-wide — that’s the expectation, that you’ve
got to go perform and you’ve got to continue to grow.
When you’re on the field, is everybody else around you
better because of you. That is the challenge that’s issued
to all positions, and I think our O-line has really embraced
that.
You see guys that have versatility and positions that can
be played, guys that have grown and developed through
that process, and I think it’s a very competitive group.
Q. After watching Tony’s group throughout the spring
and now in preseason, how intrigued are you to see
him against a different opponent, especially somebody
as talented and physical as Alabama?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, it’s going to be a great challenge.
You look at Alabama and what they do offensively, they’ve
got a very experienced offensive line, big, strong, powerful.
You look at how they utilize the tight end position and
creating different surfaces, movements, all the window
dressing to really be able to play downhill.
They’re going to push the ball vertically down the field. I
think it’s probably one of the best receiving corps in the
country, some very talented players that will align all over
the place so you’ve got to be locked in on match-ups,
you’ve got to be locked in on leverages, understanding
what’s your job, what’s your task and what you’re trying to
take away, and you’ve got to be aggressive.
This is a team that if you don’t bring it every snap, they
absolutely will expose you. I’m really looking forward to our
defense. You’ve seen them be able to transition from all
the things we’ve worked in practice, and for that to carry
over to the game — it’s both sides. You’ve got two new
coordinators on the offensive and defensive side of the
ball, and I think they’ve done a great job of working
together as they’ve competed against each other in fall
camp.
Now as we transition into game week, the preparation
that’s been invested and to be able to challenge each other
to try to expose areas against each other that I think has
made us better through the process and through that
competition.
I’m really looking forward to both sides of the ball getting a
go and showing it on game day.
Q. How is Squirrel White doing physically?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, full expectation for Squirrel to
play. He was able to practice the last couple days. Really
pleased with him and just his process. He came off the
second scrimmage, had a great outing, scored a long
touchdown. You feel his confidence, and he took that over
into — when he wasn’t able to be on the field last week, he
was kind of recovering from a minor injury. Still, his attack
was there.
I think he’s done a great job. He’s a veteran receiver. He’s
a guy that’s performed at a very high level. So we’re glad
to have him back in the fold, and looking forward to this
week.
Q. With Tommy, how good has he been as a football
player for you this last month, because what Florida
State fans remember is obviously 2023 and then last
year he played here. Has he looked like that guy to
you for the most part? How good can he be?
MIKE NORVELL: I think Tommy is playing as good as he’s
been. That is the expectation. As he’s come in, there’s the
ownership of all actions, of what he’s doing with his arm,
what he does with his legs. I think even the continued
growth in protections and being able to help position and
get us in the best plays.
I think he’s done a wonderful job with that, working with
Coach Malzahn, Coach Tokarz. I think those guys have
been great for him. I’m looking forward to seeing him be
able to transition all of that work to the field on Saturday
against one of the top defenses probably in the country.
But he’s prepared for his moment. He’s better than what
I’ve seen him.
Q. Looking at the depth chart, you’ve got some — AJ
and Donny, former walk-ons on the two deep, you’ve
got freshmen on the two deep, and you’ve got some
younger guys that have jumped over, former starters
or older guys. What does that say about the
competition of the camp, and also, have you seen
positive results of that, of the competition being so
wide open?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, you’re not given anything. You’ve
got to go earn it. You’ve got to go put yourself in that
position. Every player on the team desires to be a starter.
Everybody desires to get a chance to go play.
You’ve got to bring that mentality to all things that you’re
doing, and then when the moment is there for you, whether
it’s in practice, scrimmages, all the things, and now as we
carry into games, you’ve got to produce.
I think when you see some of those guys that have come in
and had their own unique path, I think Donny and AJ both
have been extremely productive, and for them, their first
path to production was in special teams here, and then
you’ve seen them grow within their positions and being
able to put themselves in a place to where they get to go
out there and help us win football games.
As you look at freshmen that have come in, I think we
really did a great job with the evaluation of guys that will
have a chance to come in and impact early. I think by
probably the midpoint of the season, you’ll probably see
pushing to double-digit guys that are in that freshman class
that will have a chance to help this football team. Excited
for that group as well.
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