‘I Don’t Think It’s Jimbo Fisher’ — CFB Analyst Names 3 Potential Candidates For Florida State as Mike Norvell’s Job Hangs in the Balance

Florida State fans have seen what the program can look like at its best, which makes the recent spate of struggles even harder to accept. Now, with Mike Norvell’s future under scrutiny, the question is not just who could replace him, but who could actually get the Seminoles back on track.

A reunion with a championship-winning former coach might sound appealing, but On3 analyst J.D. PicKell believes Florida State should look at a few different options before making that call.

J.D. PicKell Names Kenny Dillingham, Manny Diaz as FSU Coaching Options

PicKell believes Florida State should consider Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, Duke’s Manny Diaz, and Louisville’s Jeff Brohm rather than turn back to former coach Jimbo Fisher.

“Who could be the next head coach at Florida State?” PicKell said, before outright dismissing Fisher as a candidate, saying, “I don’t think it’s Jimbo Fisher.”

He also identified LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker and Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines as potential fits, favoring coaches who could bring a different approach to the program.

PicKell understands why a Fisher reunion would appeal to Seminoles fans. Fisher led Florida State to a national championship during the 2013 season, with Jameis Winston’s touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin helping seal the title against Auburn in the Rose Bowl.

PicKell was in the stadium for that game and acknowledged the memories Fisher gave the program, but he warned that those achievements should not determine the next hire.

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“Phenomenal memories. However, memories don’t guarantee anything here going forward for future success,” PicKell said.

His main concern is what happened after Fisher left Tallahassee for Texas A&M. PicKell argued that Fisher had the resources and recruiting talent needed to build a championship contender in College Station, but failed to get enough from the players available to him.

Texas A&M signed a highly regarded 2022 recruiting class, yet the roster did not produce the results many expected.

“The issue to me is Jimbo Fisher had, from where I was standing, everything he needed to win at Texas A&M and refused to adapt or be malleable to the circumstances,” PicKell said.

For Florida State, PicKell sees Diaz as a potential change of direction. The Duke head coach knows the region from his time at Miami and previously worked at Florida State as an assistant.

PicKell also credited Diaz for winning a conference championship at Duke, a school more commonly associated with basketball than sustained football success.

“Temperature changer, also a defensive guy, so you kind of zig where you zag with Mike Norvell. Manny Diaz, to me, makes a lot of sense,” PicKell said. He acknowledged that Diaz might not accept the job but argued that Florida State should at least make the call.

Dillingham offers a different kind of appeal.

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The Arizona State coach previously served as Norvell’s offensive coordinator at Florida State in 2020 and 2021, giving him direct experience with the program. PicKell described him as a high-energy coach who could change the atmosphere around the team.

“You talk about a temperature changer, talk about a crazy person, talk about high energy, Kenny Dillingham is all that,” PicKell said. “And also, a pretty good track record at quarterback. Kenny Dillingham seems to know what he’s doing.”

PicKell also identified Jeff Brohm, saying, “Another interesting name, head coach at Louisville, quarterback whisperer… Jeff Brohm would make some sense here.”

He also pointed to Baker and Haines as coordinator candidates worth considering for “a coordinator carousel”, though he did not offer the same detailed evaluation of either coach.

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Any coaching change, however, would also carry a high financial cost, making the next decision about both football performance and the resources available to support a replacement.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.