Florida State’s international recruiting push is still in its early days, but Mike Norvell already sees where it can lead.
The Seminoles have added offensive linemen Luke Francis Jr. from Croydon, United Kingdom, and Nikau Hepi from Auckland, New Zealand, and both are viewed as long-term development projects rather than quick fixes. Norvell made clear that the upside is real, even if the timeline is slower than what comes with more traditional recruiting paths.
“It’s definitely something that’s expanded,” Norvell said when discussing international recruiting. “When you’ve seen guys that have come in and, whether it’s our program or other programs across the country, grow and develop.”
That growth is the whole point. Unlike prospects who have been steeped in American high school football for years, international players often arrive with limited experience in the sport. That makes the learning curve steep, especially for offensive linemen, where success depends on technique, communication and reading defenses just as much as size and strength.
Norvell said Francis and Hepi are both still learning the game.
“Both of those guys are very, very new and young to the game,” Norvell said. “There’s aspects of just understanding that are continuing to grow.”
Even so, Florida State has reasons to be encouraged. Norvell pointed to the physical traits both linemen bring and said there is something there to work with as they continue developing.
“They’ve both got a great size, I do believe they both have ability as they develop throughout,” Norvell added.
Turning that raw ability into something dependable at the Power Four level takes time. Offensive line coach Herb Hand is tasked with helping the pair build the kind of footwork, leverage, scheme recognition and comfort in the system that the position demands. That kind of progress does not happen in a hurry, particularly for players still learning the basics of American football.
Norvell said he has been pleased with what he’s seen so far, but he’s not pretending the job is finished.
“Last week was an important week for guys like them,” Norvell said. “Probably still have a process in front of them for them to get to where they’re going to be ready to help us, but when we took them, we knew that this was going to be a process.”
That was the expectation from the start. Florida State did not bring in Francis and Hepi assuming either would immediately fill a hole along the offensive line. The staff identified traits they believe can be molded into production down the road.
Norvell also praised Hand’s work with both players, calling their development encouraging.
And beyond these two prospects, the broader appeal of international recruiting is clear to Norvell: it can open the door to players who might not be on the radar of the usual talent pipeline. For programs trying to gain an edge in roster building, that matters.
“There are guys that might have a little bit less experience in the game, but with either physical traits, abilities, whether it’s size, athleticism that we think can translate well, obviously provide opportunity for that,” Norvell said.
For Florida State, the real test will come later. The Seminoles’ international recruiting story won’t be measured by how many names they find overseas, but by how well they can turn those raw tools into usable players once they get to Tallahassee.
For Francis and Hepi, the runway is there. Now it’s about making the next step.
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