Coach Mike Norvell
Press Conference
MIKE NORVELL: Good morning. Appreciate everybody
being here. Excited to be at report day. Already started
meetings here this morning with the players.
Really proud of the work that they’ve put in throughout the
course of the summer. I think it’s been a very productive
summer, one that we’ve tried to utilize the time we could
spend together. They’re on the field, being able to
maximize the time in the meeting room as well.
Really working to build a cohesiveness within this group,
and that’s one of the big focuses as we get into this fall
camp, is really work to establish each side of the ball. It
can be a lot of competition, guys that have done a great job
and continuing to grow and develop in their time here at
Florida State, whether it’s been seven, eight months or
whether it’s been five or six years.
But for this team to come together and to be able to put
their stamp on this 2025 season, it’s a ton of energy,
excitement. I’ve talked a lot a week ago there at the ACC
Media Days about the edge that we’ve been looking for
and really demanding on a daily basis and what we’re
doing and what we want it to look like, because there is
one shot, there is one opportunity.
And it’s going to take everybody in our program to go and
push, pull, whatever the task is that’s in front of you,
whatever it takes to go and to win at all things that we’re
doing and to continue to push this program and to get this
program back to what I expect it to be, what it deserves to
be.
And what better way than to be able to kick off here in
Doak Campbell Stadium at full capacity on August 30th.
There’s a lot of excitement within all things in our program
for what’s here ahead.
We’ve got 25 practices starting off tomorrow. And I know
our guys are ready to work. I do want to give a shout out
to just all of the departments that have invested so much
time and energy in helping prepare these players, from
Coach Storms and his staff in strength and conditioning, to
Josh Chatman and all of our athletic training group, to
Jaden Hamil in nutrition, and obviously Kenneth in the
group there, academically.
It’s all hands on deck when it comes to helping these guys
continue to grow and build that confidence that’s necessary
and obviously the work that’s gone into allowing them to
put themselves in a position to really go do something
special. That’s what we’re set out to go do.
The work continues, but the 2025 journey starts tomorrow,
once we hit that practice field.
Q. What are some of the things you did this offseason
to try to establish that edge? What was different about
this offseason in regards to working towards that
goal?
MIKE NORVELL: For us, everything had a focus of
competition. Whether it was back in winter program, tour
of duty, there was not a day that went by where you would
have the work, the reps, the things that were throughout
the course of a workout. But we ended with a competition.
I wanted to see guys, with all eyes on them, where they
would go, what it would look like when it’s one-on-one,
somebody’s going to win and somebody’s going to lose,
and what you’re willing to pour into it, what you’re willing to
take from the experience. Nobody ever wants to face
disappointment with those opportunities.
But also got to see the response. I got to see the edge that
was brought when things were good for somebody and at
times whenever it wasn’t. A lot of group opportunities that
guys that had a chance to work through and work with, and
just trying to establish that identity. It didn’t matter where,
when, time, situation. If you get a chance to compete, go
put it all out there. And with the result, where do you go
from there?
I’ve really liked the mindset of this team. I’ve liked the way
they’ve challenged each other, inspired each other, pushed
each other. And that’s something that is needed and is
something that I think this football team has really
embraced.
And I’m excited to see that carry over into fall camp as we
get a little bit deeper into the situations that we’re going to
potentially face and making sure that we’re building this
team in all three phases with these guys truly leading the
charge.
Q. You talked before about, with Gus being, your role,
being able to meet players where they’re at more,
spend more time with them in different ways. For you,
what has that meant for you to be able to spend time
with players, get to know them at a personal level?
MIKE NORVELL: I love that part of it. I’m here to help
these guys go live out the dreams they have and to
maximize the potential, to be able to showcase and shine
for all areas of their life, but then specifically for the players
that they’re continuing to grow to be.
As you go through the course of a year, whether it’s
offseason, spring practice, summer workouts and the
season that’s ahead, there’s going to be plenty of situations
that are going to show up where guys have to, they’ve got
to go take a step and they’ve got to respond to the good,
the bad, the things that feel good and then obviously the
things that — it might be a disappointing play, a
disappointing moment or might be a tragedy that they
experience outside of the football field.
But to be able to meet them where they are and to help
guide them and elevate the response that they have, that’s
what makes this journey worth it, is to be able to tell the
stories.
We’ve got an incredible group of young men. I think
they’ve got outstanding character. They really spend a lot
of time investing in each other there on the outside.
That’s another part of it, just to get their perspective. As a
coach, you can see it, you can believe it, but these players,
I mean, they live it day to day and side by side. And just to
be able to even hear from them who it is that’s having that
positive influence or who that is that is challenging them
and just really being able to grasp that perspective,
whether it’s in a one-on-one meeting or just kind of meeting
them where they’re at has really been good for me.
It’s something that allows me to implement different —
whether it’s different strategies, different things of where
we might have a need, or be able to just help a player
along through a situation that they’re going through.
So really looking forward to continue to build upon that for
all the things on the field as well as off the field as we go
through the course of this season. But specifically starting
with fall camp.
Q. We haven’t asked you about Zach Arnett what he
brings to the staff, and now adding to this larger group
of former head coaches you now have on the staff,
what does that do for just the staff overall?
MIKE NORVELL: So grateful for the opportunity to have
Coach Arnett here. And I think Zach is, one, outstanding
person. Just having him for the last, I guess, right around
a month or three weeks, whatever that time frame has
been, just seeing him and his interaction with the guys on
this staff, seeing his interaction with the players, he brings
great energy.
This is the first time I’m getting a chance to work side by
side with him, but has had great relationships. I’ve had a
great deal of respect for the job that he’s done throughout
the course of his career. And to be able to bring him in,
somebody who is obviously very familiar with Coach White;
Tony coached him when he was in college. This goes
back 15, 20 years, just for their relationship.
And to be able to have guys that have that belief in each
other, the understanding, but also can — Zach brings his
perspective on all things and helping support and push our
defense as well as our program to where we all want it to
go. So it was a great opportunity and very excited about
his role and the impact that he’s going to make here.
Q. We’ve heard you say, we’ve heard some players
say it, but the word “desperate” to be better. We’ve
heard you say that. Can you contextualize what that
looks like on the field? What are you looking for out of
this group of players when you say you want them to
be desperate to be better?
MIKE NORVELL: I want every bit of who they are to go be
what they can become. And there’s not going to be a
player who stands up and says they want to be mediocre
or they want to be average. Everybody’s going to say the
same things.
It’s like every team when they report — this is the year, this
is the time. It all sounds the same. But on a daily basis,
what shows up? I mean, are you truly willing to give
everything?
As important of the one play, the one moment, the one
day, the one opportunity that you have, are you willing to
give all with a sense of desperation to make it happen? It
might not look good, might not feel good. The odds might
be stacked against you, but are you willing to rise up and
overcome?
And as we go through this process of helping a group of
18- to 22-year-olds, a coaching staff, everybody coming
together for this season, are we really willing to go and put
it all out there and to live and be what we say we desire.
You’ve got to come with a daily focus, a daily edge. That
competition has got to drive everything that’s within. But
you have to eliminate all areas of complacency. You’ve got
to eliminate all areas of comfort. You’ve got to be willing to
give every bit of it.
That sense of desperation, that’s what I want for this team.
I don’t say it in a negative light or anything else. It’s just
being able to get all that we can with the players, the staff,
this program that’s in front of us. And I’ve got a lot of belief
for what that can be. I don’t want to hold anything back.
Q. In checking with Coach Storms after the summer
workouts, did you guys notice any notable or
remarkable physical transformations amongst any of
the players specifically?
MIKE NORVELL: Yeah, I’ve been really pleased with what
I’ve seen from our guys. We’ve had some guys that have
done a great job in gaining, losing, all that, but what I like is
just the body comps.
Yes, everything is tested, everything has gone through. At
the end of the day, I know what speed looks like and I
know what the power of movements in the weight room.
Now it’s about the application.
I feel good about where this team is from a skill set process
and what we’ve been able to build and develop and kind of
the position that they’re in. Now it’s time to go apply that.
But they’ve done a remarkable amount of work in helping
prepare themselves for what’s ahead here for these next
25 practices. But that’s what I want to go see. I want to
see the application of all of the gains in the weight room for
the things that they’ve been able to do physically because
we have an impressive group when it comes to that, but it’s
time to go apply it into and play a game.
Q. Guys in the summer, talk about what you’ve seen
out of them so far. I know you haven’t done a fall
camp yet but them coming in. And, two, there’s a lot of
excitement for 2026. Seems like a lot of kids are
believing what you’re doing going into the Alabama
game. Talk about those.
MIKE NORVELL: I think it’s been great seeing this entire
team really come together with the guys that returned from
a year ago, just the mindset that they brought, the work
they’ve been pouring in. The newcomers that have joined
us that were here throughout the spring, I thought was
really good to get a sense of the foundation of the
relationships and the impact that these guys can make.
And even coming into the summer, we’ve been able to add
some really impressive young men that also, I think, have a
chance to be dynamic players. Jerry Wilson is a guy that’s
really stood out to me, just through the workouts. His
mindset, his approach, the work that he’s poured in, even
just in the meeting room, doing things on his own to be
able to help accelerate his practice.
Gavin Sawchuk and Gavin Blackwell, those guys, they’ve
transitioned very nicely into this program. And I think that
you see the skill set that you had seen on film and the
opportunity that they’re going to have to be able to make
an impact within our program.
But coupling that with some of the freshmen that have
come in that, I think, absolutely have a chance to be able
to make their impact as we get into the season. Obviously
getting out there and seeing them in pads and being able
to go against somebody else rather than just the athletic
talent. That’s going to be a big part of our evaluation.
And putting all these different guys into position to
showcase all that they can do and finding those right
groupings — obviously the competition and who’s going to
go out and be the game changer that we need on a
consistent basis as those guys are able to perform and
showcase all that they are.
Q. Cromo is one of those guys who has come in over
the summer. I remember you saying at a booster event
that he might be the recruit you’ve watched the most in
that process. Has he been what you guys think so far
in the early stages?
MIKE NORVELL: Absolutely. I mean, he’s one of those
freshmen that I’m excited to see his transition. In my
coaching career, I don’t think I’ve ever watched a prospect
more in person than what I’ve watched him. I think every
year I was able to see him play in a game throughout his
high school career — basketball, I mean I know the
competitor he is. I know the versatility that he can bring
and just the overall level of talent.
And he definitely has not disappointed through the course
of summer workouts. And it’s a lot to be able to make that
jump, but I think he’s built for it. And very excited to get
him out there on the field and see him and what he can do.
Q. Seemed like there was a lot of excitement about the
backup quarterbacks in the spring, the way they were
adapting to the offense and settling in. What have you
seen from them since spring to now, in terms of just
understanding and comfort level?
MIKE NORVELL: It’s been a great push. Obviously, as
you go into summer workouts, you can get your allotted
time on the field but you can’t go against the defense.
There’s some things that limits you in that type of action.
I know our players, they did a great job of trying to do as
much as they could on their own in helping facilitate that
competition. But these guys have done a wonderful job
knowing what their role and responsibility is on a given
play, but being able to take command and control of what
we’re asking them to do and asking the offense to do as a
whole.
I think you see the efficiency in how they’re operating, you
see the growth and just their comfort and footwork, timing.
The things that they’re able to do on air has been really
good. And I’m excited to see that carry over as we get a
chance to compete, offense/defense, here in fall camp.
Q. Obviously since the spring, the House settlement
has passed. How did that change anything in your
offseason? Did you feel like you guys were prepared?
Did you feel there were any challenges you didn’t
anticipate? Kind of talking about that settlement
structure and the rev-share agreements, where are you
guys with that?
MIKE NORVELL: I think we’re in a good place with that.
Obviously, it’s something that was anticipated of coming
throughout the year. But until it was set and done, it was
something we kind of had to work through and be
prepared.
But worked hand in hand with our general counsel, and I
think that they’ve done an extraordinary job, poured in a lot
of time, work.
This is an opportunity that’s really special for our
student-athletes to be able to impact their futures.
Obviously all the things they’ve put themselves into a
position to do, and I feel really good about where we are
and just all things as we get to kick off here tomorrow.
Q. What gives you confidence with your offensive line,
specifically the four transfers you brought in, who are
kind of perceived starters at this stage?
MIKE NORVELL: I’ve seen it. You see it through — every
guy that came in was a multiyear starter at a previous
institution. You’ve seen their growth, their development. I
feel like we’ve got a great group that they understand what
it is to play that position.
And it’s easy to come in have a singular focus of
themselves, but these guys have truly done a wonderful
job of building the group as a whole and bringing some of
the guys that were here, some of the guys that have come
in, whether it’s the freshmen or younger players that are
continuing to develop, just seeing that group really gel
together.
But we’ve seen these guys. We’ve got a great
understanding of ability, potential, but also how they’ve
responded throughout the course of their careers to the
good, to the bad, and I have big expectations for the
growth that they’re going to show this year, as an
individual, but collectively being able to reestablish our
expectation for how that position needs to go and perform.
And I’ve got a lot of excitement, and I think we’ve got
depth. We’ve got talent. We’ve got ability. But guys that I
think really have a high ceiling for what they can do
together.
Q. Knowing that depth charts are always fluid and
moving, do you have a sense for just how fluid this
might be in preseason camp given the amount of new
guys you have coming in?
MIKE NORVELL: I think finding those, probably more into
specifics of here’s early into the season, the roles that guys
define for themselves.
And you’re going to have a lot of competition at positions, I
think guys that bring versatility in what they can do on both
sides of the ball.
We’ve got two dynamic coordinators, I think the way they
utilize personnel as their secret sauce in their success
throughout the course of their careers. So finding roles
that our players establish for themselves as they’ve shown
continued growth from when we ended in spring practice or
when guys have now come on campus and whether it’s the
different groupings, different roles, packages, all the things
we can do because of that to help showcase that I think will
really make this a team that can be dangerous with the
talent that we have and the guys that we’ve been able to
see grow within this program.
So I think there will be a little bit of ebb and flow in it
throughout the 25 practices, but all of our focus is about
making sure that when we get here August 30th, whatever
grouping it is, whatever situation that shows up, that the
best are out there and confident in what they’re being
asked to go perform at an elite level.
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