The transfer portal began an era where college coaches could bring in older, experienced and productive players. They were more mature and ahead from a strength and conditioning standpoint.

That often has resulted in reduced opportunities for freshmen as they fight for playing time. Given a win-now mindset, coaches must balance who is ready to deliver on the field. And often they will lean toward veterans with experience.

Enrolling early became the preferred path for many high school seniors in the 2010s, helping them get a jump on college classes in the spring semester while taking part in 15 practices. That jump is clearly still valuable, regardless of how much playing time in the fall is earned. At the very least, a freshman season is an apprenticeship year to soak up knowledge and gain some experience.

How productive have FSU’s true freshmen been in coach Mike Norvell’s five seasons at the school? Let’s take a look at some of most significant contributions and then we’ll add some thoughts below.

Our criteria was subjective, but we listed 27 Seminoles who made significant contributions in their true freshman seasons (an average of between 5-6 players per year). With FSU’s class averaging 25 commitments, roughly 20 percent are contributing.

We can argue that freshmen have advantages now, being able to enroll early and that they can play in up to four games without losing a year of eligibility. What time they get on the field, regardless of how productive they are as a true freshman, is significant in the long term for their development.

The bummer of the list is how few 2022 true freshmen are still on FSU’s roster. Just two members of the 2022 class (defensive tackle Daniel Lyons and linebacker Omar Graham Jr.) are on the current roster.

But the outlook is better when looking at the 2023 class, which lost all three receivers who played early but still includes Blake Nichelson and Justin Cryer.

Others who could contribute this fall include KJ Sampson, Conrad Hussey, Edwin Joseph, Andre’ Otto, KJ Kirkland, Sam Singleton, Ja’Bril Rawls, Quindarrius Jones and Ashlynd Barker (all of whom aren’t listed as starters but are in the Osceola’s projected two-deep depth chart).

A positive takeaway is that running backs and receivers often find the field early. That trend holds across college football as well as at FSU. Lawrance Toafili was the most productive true freshman offensive player in this career, and the list of FSU freshmen contributors is filled with receivers.

If we’re projecting out to the 2025 signing class, it will be fun to see which true freshmen play early. Wide receiver Jayvan Boggs has been consistently praised by coaches and veterans on the FSU roster.

In a position group where playing time appears to be wide open going into preseason camp, Boggs feels like a good bet to contribute early.

And while Ousmane Kromah enrolled in the summer, the running back room is an open competition.

If Kromah can pick up pass protection, perhaps unlikely early in the year but potentially an area where he’ll improve by midseason, he should see more playing time as 2025 unfolds.