Mike Norvell and FSU suffer hard blow as 6’6" 2026 class recruit ditches Seminoles to pick Mike Elko's Texas A&M

Mike Norvell and Florida State have lost out in the race to secure the commitment of three-star offensive tackle Avery Morcho. On Wednesday, On3's Hayes Fawcett reported that Morcho, who was a top target for the Seminoles, announced his pledge to Mike Elko’s Texas A&M.

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Morcho confirmed his commitment in an interview with Fawcett.

“Coach Elko is making a change in College Station, and I want to be a part of it," Morcho said. "I feel like going to A&M is going to be the best chance of developing me as a man and a top ten draft pick.”

Norvell is under a lot of pressure to turn things around at Florida State after the Seminoles went 2-10 in 2024. An important part of reversing the program’s fortunes is recruiting the best prospects out of high school and taking advantage of the transfer portal.

In a report by Athlon Sports previewing the 2025 season, they spotlighted more than 20 college coaches on hot seats, including Mike Norvell. Going from a 13-1 campaign in 2023 to a 2-10 campaign in 2024, it is not surprising that Norvell will be under pressure.

However, it is not all gloomy for Norvell as the fall approaches. A staff reshuffle will fill the Seminoles fans with hope that a turnaround is possible.

“High-profile coordinator hires in Gus Malzahn (offense) and Tony White (defense) should be a massive boost to Norvell in what could be a make-or-break year,” Athlon Sports wrote.

Mike Norvell’s FSU adds a legacy prospect

Mike Norvell and the Florida State Seminoles gained an important addition to the program’s 2026 class on Tuesday with the commitment of four-star cornerback Jay Timmons. He was previously committed to Indiana.

Timmons received an offer from the Seminoles this month, making a trip to Tallahassee before announcing his decision.

The Pine-Richland (Pennsylvania) prospect committed to Indiana in April. However, he flipped to Florida State, where his father, Lawrence Timmons, played linebacker.

Timmons’ pledge continues a trend that has characterized Florida State’s recruitment since Norvell became the coach.

Florida State will begin the 2025 season with a marquee matchup with Alabama on Aug. 30. It is a tough test for the Seminoles, who will be seeking to redeem themselves this season.

About the author

Kayode is a College and High School Sports writer at Sportskeeda since June 2023. Hailing from Nigeria, he has an undergraduate degree in Linguistics and African Languages, and has previously had stints as an entertainment and politics writer for around 7 months. Adept at creating content around historical perspectives, he strives to report stories based only on verified information. His mantra is - truth is always more important than sensationalism.

A fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Kayode admires how Nick Saban developed talent at the team and delivered consistent results, and hopes that the post-Saban era is just as fruitful. He is thoroughly impressed by Johnny Manziel’s talent, and feels that Shedeur Sanders is massively underrated. Nick Saban is his all-time favorite college coach.

While Kayode believes there is little to separate college and mainstream sports, pro leagues absorbing the best athletes leads to their quality being higher. Witnessing the Colorado Buffaloes’ hot streak at start the 2023 football season was one of his all-time favorite college sports moments.

When not writing, Kayode enjoys reading and watching sports documentaries. His most recent watch was "Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In."

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Edited by Ribin Peter