The Florida State Seminoles faced some challenges during the 2024 college football season, but they were seeing bright spots in their recruiting efforts for the future. According to evaluations by On3, the Seminoles landed the No. 20 recruiting class for 2025 with nine talented four-star recruits and were sitting at No. 10 in the rankings for the 2026 class.
However, there was a significant shakeup as Florida State lost a key commitment from quarterback Brady Smigiel for their 2026 class. Ranked as the No. 48 player in On3’s industry ranking, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound signal-caller had previously chosen the Seminoles amidst offers from other powerhouse programs like Oregon, Notre Dame, and Florida.
Smigiel’s performance on the field has been nothing short of impressive. Last season, playing for Newbury Park in California, he threw for 3,521 yards, racked up 49 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Over three high school seasons, the rising senior has accumulated a staggering 11,222 passing yards, 147 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions, underscoring his potential as a future star in college football.
In early talks this month, Smigiel reaffirmed his commitment, citing his connection with Florida State’s head coach, Mike Norvell, as a key factor. “Coach Norvell is special,” Smigiel mentioned. “Just reminded me why I committed. Being able to see him again and having some important questions that me and my family had answered as I expected was crucial. He reminds me a lot of my dad as a coach, and that’s one of the huge reasons I committed.”
Describing Norvell as having an “old school” style, Smigiel appreciated the communication and values shared, which played a significant role in his initial decision to commit.
Now, with his recruitment process reopened, Smigiel will be weighing over 30 scholarship offers as he navigates the next steps in his promising football journey. Florida State will need to regroup and focus on maintaining their recruiting momentum amid this unexpected development.
