Look, college football is a dirty game. One day, you’re up; the next, you’re in the mud, getting stomped out by the same people you once owned. Just ask Mike Norvell. He went from leading an undefeated squad in 2023 to putting up a tragic 2-10 record in 2024—last in the ACC, fired half his coaching staff, and left the program looking like a crime scene. And guess who came through to clean up? Brian Kelly. You might think, how does that even make sense? LSU saw Florida State tossing talent out the door and said, “Oh, bet.” And that’s how Alex Atkins, FSU’s former offensive coordinator, went from Norvell’s scapegoat to Brian Kelly’s golden ticket. If you don’t know why that’s a big deal, let’s break it down.
On January 30th, LSU insider Matt Moscona put it plain as day on his podcast. “Alex Atkins recently was fired by Florida State. He was their offensive coordinator, and you may look at that and go, ‘You mean the team that was just a two-win football team?’ Why are you doing back flips over adding that guy?’ Yeah, a year ago, he was the offensive coordinator of the team that was undefeated 13-0 and got robbed by the college football playoff committee.”
Translation? Atkins ain’t the problem. The man was cooking just a year ago, but one poor season, and suddenly he’s jobless? That’s Norvell’s L. And Brian Kelly? He knew exactly what to do—swoop in and lock him up before someone else got wise.
LSU ain’t just getting a coach; they’re getting a proven recruiter and a trench-warfare specialist. Atkins’ resume? Stacked and jacked. He started at UT-Martin as a grad assistant, bounced around at Marshall, Georgia Southern, Tulane, and Charlotte, before landing at Florida State. And get this—back in 2021, LSU already wanted him, but he stayed loyal to FSU. Fast forward three years, and now he’s finally heading to Baton Rouge. This time, the Tigers aren’t letting him slip away.
For all the numbers nerds out there, check this—FSU’s offense under Atkins in 2023? 13-0 record. 401.6 yards per game (54th nationally). 34.6 points per game (18th nationally). But in 2024, when FSU turned into a walking disaster? They plummeted to 270.3 yards per game (132nd) and 15.4 points per game (131st). Now, is that all on Atkins? Hell no. But Norvell still kicked him to the curb like it was. LSU ain’t making that mistake.
Brian Kelly’s combo: The Solomon Thomas jackpot
Now, here’s where it gets wild. Atkins’ impact ain’t just about Xs and Os—it’s about getting 5 stars to buy in. Enter Solomon Thomas. A five-star offensive lineman who had literally locked in with Florida State since December 2023. Even when FSU was looking like a JV squad in 2024, Thomas stayed loyal. But the moment Atkins got the boot? He started looking elsewhere. And where did he land? LSU. That too, on the national signing day.
In a December 29th interview with Rivals, Solomon Thomas made it clear what went down. “I went to a practice, and I asked my ex-coach at Florida State about the offensive line coach at LSU. He’s a great dude on and off the field; he’ll take care of you beyond just the football aspect of it. And that’s always been a guy I wanted to play for.”
Thomas ain’t just talking; he’s showing love where it’s due. He doubled down. “Atkins became almost like a father figure to me, a father figure, a friend, someone I could talk to the Bible about. There was really nobody like him who could replace him or someone I could see replacing him at Florida State. He was there for me. In every interview I’ve ever done, I’ve always talked about how Alex was the reason why I wanted to be at Florida State.”
That’s not just a coach. That’s a man who changes lives. And now he’s bringing that energy to LSU. Solomon Thomas flipping to the Tigers? That’s just the first W. With Atkins recruiting, more top-tier linemen are gonna follow. Atkins didn’t just land in Baton Rouge; he brought top-tier talent with him. If you think this is the last time LSU steals a recruit because of him, think again. Norvell might be out here scrambling, but Brian Kelly? He just leveled up. The Tigers stay winning in 2025.
The post Mike Norvell’s Troubles Turn Into a Blessing for Brian Kelly as LSU’s Bold Move Set to Fix Recruiting Woes appeared first on EssentiallySports.