Florida State made a strong early pitch to 2028 four-star quarterback Chandler Dyson, and the Georgia native left Tallahassee feeling like the Seminoles had done exactly what they needed to do.
Dyson told Rivals’ Chad Simmons that Florida State made the “biggest impression” on him during his visit, and the message from Mike Norvell’s staff landed the way the Seminoles hoped it would.
“The biggest impression was Florida State. They acted like they loved me,” Dyson told Rivals ’ Chad Simmons.
“The coaches were excited for me to be there and fired up the whole time. They really showed my parents they wanted me there, and they believe I could be a starter if I went there.”
That kind of reception matters for Florida State as Norvell works to build momentum in the 2028 class while also keeping an eye on 2027. The Seminoles have been putting more energy into recruiting this offseason, and Dyson’s visit is another sign that the approach is resonating with top targets.
Dyson also wasn’t bothered by the chatter around Norvell’s future, even as some recruits have hesitated because of the noise. He said the coach won him over during the June 21 visit.
"Coach Norvell is a great coach. He’s been through some adversity, and he’s working through it," Dyson said per Simmons.
That’s a useful win for Florida State, especially after a rough stretch in which the program has struggled to hold onto in-state talent. Rivals have been able to pull several top local 2028 players away, including Jayden Wade, who committed to Georgia, and Neimann Lawrence, who committed to Texas.
Dyson gives the Seminoles a chance to swing the recruiting battle in a different direction. Instead of losing ground in Florida, Norvell and his staff are trying to reach into SEC territory and bring back a quarterback from Warner Robins, Georgia.
And Dyson is no small target. He’s ranked No. 152 overall and No. 10 among quarterbacks nationally, which makes him the kind of player Florida State could build around if it lands him.
For now, Dyson says he’s not rushing anything.
“I’m looking to commit before my senior season,” Dyson said. “I’m really just being patient and waiting to see how many offers I can rack up before I really start thinking about committing. For me, I’m talking to different schools and taking the recruiting process very slowly.”
With two years of high school football still ahead, Florida State will have to keep working. LSU and other SEC programs figure to stay in the mix, and the Seminoles’ next step is simple: keep the relationship growing and hope the first impression turns into something bigger.
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Mike Norvell Pressure At Florida State Just Hit A New Level
Mike Norvells run at Florida State still carries the memory of 2023, when he guided the Seminoles to a 13-1 record and an ACC championship, but that success now feels increasingly distant. The conversation around the program has shifted hard in the other direction, with the Seminoles recent slide putting a very different kind of spotlight on the coach who once looked like he had the whole thing pointed back up.
Florida States on-field struggles have been paired with recruiting concerns that only add to the unease, as the 2027 class sits at No. 59 nationally and does not yet look like the kind of group that can quickly reset the trajectory. Even among ACC coaches, Norvell is being viewed through a harsher lens now, and the longer the results lag behind the standard he set, the harder it becomes to ignore the pressure building around him. [Read more 🡒]
Can FSU Finally Trust Its Linebackers In Year Two Under Norvell
Florida States linebacker room looks a lot different heading into the second year of the 3-3-5, and that is by design. The Seminoles have turned to transfers Ernie Sims, Chris Jones and Mikai Gbayor while also keeping a core that includes Blake Nichelson, Omar Graham Jr., Caleb LaVallee and AJ Cottrill, with freshman Izayia Williams adding another layer of competition. After a season of shuffling and uneven play at the position, the hope is that a cleaner fit in the scheme and a deeper group will finally give the defense more stability in the middle.
Jones arrives with a strong track record from Southern Miss, while Gbayor brings familiarity with Tony White after previous stops and a productive year at Nebraska. LaVallees return from a leg injury should matter too, because Florida State needs bodies it can trust, not just names on the depth chart. The bigger question is whether all of those pieces can settle in quickly enough to make the linebacker spot a strength instead of a weekly concern, especially with so much riding on how the new-look group handles the demands of year two. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Hit A Familiar Roadblock With Elite In State QB
Florida State is back in the familiar position of trying to hold its ground with an in-state quarterback who has plenty of options. Hudson West, a 2028 target for the Seminoles, is drawing interest from Florida, North Carolina and Georgia Tech, and his recruitment already has the feel of a long one. For a program that still sells itself on staying home and winning big in Florida, landing a player like West would matter well beyond one class.
West has made relationships a major part of his decision-making, which gives Florida State a clear opening if it can keep building trust over time. The challenge is obvious, though: Mike Norvells uncertain tenure and the programs recent struggles to consistently secure top in-state talent hang over this pursuit, and those are the kinds of questions that can linger deep into a quarterback recruitment. [Read more 🡒]