Mike Norvell emphasizes the importance of big personalities playing for Florida State

As Florida State looks to recover from a two-win campaign in 2024, it needs some players to emerge in a major way. Not just on the field, producing, but in the locker room.

Enter defensive back Jeremiah Wilson and quarterback Tommy Castellanos, two of the bigger personalities on the team. Coach Mike Norvell is counting on both to make a major difference this fall.

He thinks both are cut from the same cloth and ready to lead. He explained.

“When Jerry talks, do you think he loves football?” Norvell asked reporters. “Do you think he absolutely loves it? That’s what I want. And the personality of where it comes, all of it, you can’t, there’s no faking that. I mean it is true passion, wanting to be, willing to be in. Some guys get really excited about that. And I haven’t been around Jeremiah his entire career, but I think even he’s probably matured through that process.”

Wilson spent the last year at Houston, with two years at Syracuse before that. He’s been around the block and he’s managed to mesh on a handful of different teams.

Now it’s up to him to help bring Florida State back. But it’s easy, Norvell pointed out, when it all comes natural to you.

“But when you love it, like absolutely love, that goes to the end, goes to the desperation, whatever it takes for me to be what I can,” Norvell said. “And when you value who you do it with. That’s what I love about these guys I’m watching. Man, I think they really do care. ‘Hey, I know what I want to be, but I need these guys around me that I hope continue to push and elevate, and what I can provide for them…’ That’s one of the personalities that make it enjoyable.”

Florida State has some elite examples of big personalities that have paid off in a big way in recent years. Norvell was quick to cite a few.

“Jordan Travis loved playing football. Loved it,” he said. “He was not Jerry’s personality. He was different. But it was that love and the willingness to go pour into others that makes guys really, really good leaders. And when you have that, because I think that not only the guys with big personalities, but if you don’t have the substance behind it, if you don’t have the work ethic, if you don’t have the discipline, if you’re not willing to make the sacrifices, if you’re not willing to invest in the guys around, then you’re just a big personality. But there’s no value for a team.

“I want to be around guys that love it, right, and are willing to push everything they have into the middle. And when you have that type of personality, yes, guys gravitate to that.”

That wasn’t the only Florida State example Norvell provided. He picked another off that 13-0 squad from 2023.

“Keon Coleman was, he had such a beautiful personality, but man, he loved the opportunity to compete,” Norvell said. “He loved it. So when you have those, those are very impactful for a team. And I’m glad that we have some guys that are willing to put it out there and obviously backing it up with the work.”

Will all those big personalities this year help Florida State find its way back? That’s the hope for Norvell and company.