5 homegrown FSU football recruits who will shape 2024 Seminoles
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State football coach Mike Norvell understands the buzz around his Seminoles’ transfer portal pickups.
“There’s plenty of people that have taken more transfers,” Norvell said. “People point to ours because ours are good.”
Or, in the case of Jared Verse, Jermaine Johnson and Keon Coleman, better than good.
This cycle’s top-five portal class has high-end potential, too, beyond former five-star quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. But don’t let the newcomers’ novelty take the focus away from FSU’s core. The ‘Noles built two-thirds of their roster the old-fashioned way, through high school recruiting. Their playoff hopes, then, hinge on the development of veterans as much as the influx of transfers.
Here are five key traditional recruits due for larger roles this spring and fall.
Lawrance Toafili
Four-star recruit, 2020 class
The Pinellas Park High alumnus has started 15 games and totaled more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage. Add his MVP performance in the ACC championship, and he has already had a successful career.
But the loss of Trey Benson to the NFL means more available touches for Toafili, whom running backs coach David Johnson calls “one of the most unselfish players I’ve ever coached.” Toafili’s receiving skills (67 catches) are sharp, but Johnson sees room for him to grow with his vision.
“LT is doing a good job getting the other guys ready, getting the other guys willing to work and understand the standard that we have in that room …” Johnson said. “I just think he’s going to have a big year.”
Hykeem Williams
Five-star recruit, 2023 class
Injuries limited Norvell’s top signee to eight games, five catches and one touchdown. FSU didn’t need him to do much more than that given the presence of Coleman and Johnny Wilson. With both gone, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Williams will have plenty of opportunities in a faster receiving corps that should stretch the field vertically.
Receivers coach Ron Dugans said Williams has already been preparing through more consistent training.
“Now he’s got to carry it over to the field,” Dugans said.
Patrick Payton
Four-star recruit, 2021 class
Verse’s status as a future first-round pick overshadowed Payton, who looks like FSU’s next great pass rusher. He recorded seven sacks with a team-high 14½ tackles for loss, and his 10 pass breakups were the most by an ACC defensive lineman in seven years. Since then, Payton has added almost 15 pounds to a frame that’s listed as 6-foot-5, 254 pounds.
Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller’s expectations for Payton: “To be a dominant defensive end for every play that he’s out there.”
Joshua Farmer
Three-star recruit, 2021 class
Like Payton, Farmer was a starter who was overshadowed by an All-America candidate at his position (defensive lineman Braden Fiske). That’s not the only reason why coaches usually mention Payton and Farmer in the same sentence.
The 6-foot-3, 318-pound Farmer was the defense’s most improved player last year and earned second-team all-ACC honors. But there’s another level for Farmer. If he and Payton can progress together, then FSU’s front should again terrorize offenses.
DJ Lundy
Three-star recruit, 2020 class
The Seminoles lost 76 career starts with the exits of linebackers Kalen DeLoach and Tatum Bethune. They almost lost Lundy’s 17, too, but he left the portal (after committing to Colorado) to stay at FSU. Lundy has appeared in 45 of FSU’s 48 games since his arrival, so his returning production is crucial.
“He’s played so much football here,” Norvell said. “I think he can really take another step to being a really special player here at Florida State.”
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