Three FSU football freshmen to watch this spring

Florida State's 2024 Sign Language class felt like a culmination of sorts for the FSU football coaching staff.

Mike Norvell and his staff need to build and strengthen relationships with high school coaches and potential players across the state, and after more than a year of recruiting shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. FSU's 2024 class was ranked No. 12 nationally by Rivals, by far Norvell's best finish. Ranked Class of his FSU tenure.

This is a freshman class that spent the last few months of the cycle with the best team in the country. And it's a freshman class full of playmakers, with 13 of the 23 signees already enrolled and expected to practice with the team this spring.

How many of these freshmen will contribute this season? Typically this isn't a huge number, but a more vacant depth chart this season could create opportunities for more true freshmen to carve out roles. There is a gender.

Here are three freshmen to watch on the FSU practice field this spring.

FSU's preliminary bet on Luke Kromenhoek has already partially paid off.

The staff evaluated the quarterback solely on his potential and offered him a scholarship before he started a high school football game at any position. They accepted his commitment before he started a game as QB.

That faith was rewarded when Kromenhoek went from an unknown prospect to a four-star standout ranked 95th overall recruit and No. 7 pro-style quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class.

Physically, he looks the part at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds. He also had a track record, racking up nearly 7,000 yards of offense and 70 touchdowns in three seasons at Savannah (Ga.) Benedict Military Academy.

Kromenhook isn't a player to watch this spring in terms of his contributions in 2024. He entered spring training as the No. 3 starter behind DJ Uiagalelei and Brock Glenn, and will only be on the field a few times this year in lopsided games.

But it will be important this spring to see how he really hits the ground running in his first offseason as a Seminole player. Glenn was a great freshman last spring. Will Kromenhook receive similar attention and have a day where he can be as effective as the two older quarterbacks?

The more he can do now, the more realistically there will be a real battle between Glenn and Kromenhook next offseason for the starter spot beyond 2025.

Cam Davis, who had the longest tenure at FSU in 2024 before signing, has been waiting a long time to officially become a Seminole.

While waiting, he prepared to the fullest and when he arrived on campus in January, he was far more physically ready to contribute immediately than most true freshmen.

At 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds, Davis has the build of a typical tank running back. Although not very tall, he is incredibly muscular and strong. He's a different type of running back than Trey Benson, but I think he'll be just as hard to beat.

Davis is perhaps the best candidate among the FSU freshmen to play a somewhat large role in his first season. For one thing, there's an opportunity at his position with Benson's departure and how Mike Norvell wants to utilize a deep running back rotation.

But there was also no denying Davis' work in high school. Despite playing quarterback at Dougherty High School in Albany, Georgia, he rushed for 2,478 yards and 29 touchdowns in his sophomore and junior seasons, with over 4,500 passing yards and a passing touchdown. Recorded 33 downs.

Running back is often a position that can make an immediate impact at the college level. Davis appears to be in line to play immediately this spring. He'll be able to validate his hype this spring – and will probably be judged every time I watch him practice.

There may be nothing bigger than the addition of four-star cornerback Charles Lester III in terms of FSU's win in the 2024 class.

Georgia and Alabama highly desired Lester. So was Colorado. Still, he chose the Seminoles when he committed in late July and remained steadfast in his commitment, making it official in December.

Lester, a native of Venice, Fla., was the highest-ranked member of FSU's 2024 signing class as the No. 47 overall player and No. 6 cornerback, according to Rivals. He was FSU's highest-ranked defensive back signee since Akeem Dent in the 2019 class.

At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Lester has the size needed to be a shutdown outside cornerback. He displayed his athleticism as a two-way player in high school and again when he was observed training for the Tour of Duty.

Breaking into FSU's second tier at cornerback this offseason may not be easy. FSU is only replacing one starter and has plenty of viable options to take over Renaldo Green's spot or break into the two deep.

But in terms of talent, it wouldn't be a shock at all if Lester carved out some sort of rotation role soon. If that happens, a quick start this spring will be a prerequisite.