High School

Florida State's Mike Norvell arrives by helicopter to check in on elite recruit

Andrew Nemec

Milton (Georgia) 4-star wide receiver C.J. Wiley with Florida State coach Mike Norvell
Milton (Georgia) 4-star wide receiver C.J. Wiley with Florida State coach Mike Norvell /

One of the nation's best high school football match-ups took place in Georgia on Friday night, as Gainesville hosted Milton.

>>> Live updates: Milton at Gainesville in Georgia high school football

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And it caught the eye of several college football programs, the Florida State Seminoles chief among them.

Florida State coach Mike Norvell arrived via helicopter for the contest - with Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson also on the sideline:

While the contest features significant high school football talent, perhaps the biggest draw for Norvell comes from Milton four-star wide receiver and Florida State commit C.J. Wiley.

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound pass-catcher has been committed to the Seminoles since early summer, but the Georgia Bulldogs have been a factor for some time and he recently took a visit to Athens.

Still, Norvell was rewarded, at least in part, for making the tip, as Wiley was decked out in Florida State gear during pre-game warm-ups:

Hanging on to Wiley is a key priority for Florida State, as Wiley has a sky-high ceiling and is coveted by some of the nation's top programs.

After its 1-5 start to the season, that may prove difficult, which may explain Norvell's flashy arrival in a bright-yellow 'chopper.

Here's what 247Sports had to say about Wiley:

"Big-framed outside receiving target with excellent physical tools, multi-sport context, and football pedigree. Legitimately 6-4+ with large catch radius. Capable of becoming a dangerous red-zone threat. Basketball player who could dunk in junior high. Ran multiple sub-11.00-second 100-meter times as a junior. ...Has shown a more expanded route tree than many receivers at the same stage. Displays consistent ball-tracking acumen on vertical shots. Willing to work the middle of the field. Shows impressive run-after-catch ability. Could be just scratching the surface on unlocking high-end explosiveness in pads. Immense production as a junior. Father earned All-SEC D-line honors at LSU and played in the NFL. Projects as a high-major receiver with physical tools to play either if needed. Combination of traits, multi-sport context, and on-field evidence suggest future NFL Draft candidacy."

As for Miami, it is likely Dawson arrived to check in on Milton four-star quarterback Luke Nickel, who has been committed to the 'Canes since August 2023.

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Andrew Nemec
ANDREW NEMEC

Andrew Nemec covers national high school recruiting and brings more than a decade of experience. Andrew hosts "Recruiting with Andrew Nemec" on ESPN-affiliate 1080 The FAN in Portland, Oregon. He holds a journalism degree from the University of Oregon.

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