The early signing period is always a chaotic time for Florida State under Mike Norvell, and that was no different in December 2024.
After a 2-10 season, firing both coordinators, and losing their top commitment in the class, offensive lineman Solomon Thomas, the Seminoles knew they needed to pivot quickly. With no running back currently committed in their class, amazing for a program when the recruiting coordinator was also the running backs coach, and with released funds from Thomas’ decommitment,
the Seminoles flipped Ousmane Kromah from Georgia’s recruiting class and landed the No. 3 running back in the 2025 cycle, according to 247Sports.
Even though the Georgia native did not enroll until the summer, Kromah came on campus with a college-ready frame, listed in 2025 as 6-foot-1, 218 pounds, and instantly started making his way up the depth chart. The true freshman finished with the third-highest rushing yards on the roster a season ago, and ranked second in yards per carry (5.4) among rushers with 30 or more attempts. Of course, he had his first-year moments, such as a costly fumble against Miami, but on a team that lacked consistent playmakers, almost every time Kromah touched the ball, he created action. Now, in year two, he and running backs coach Kam Martin expect Kromah to be a focal point.
“I know Ousmane has all the tools to be very special,” Martin told the local Tallahassee media on Monday. “He takes hard coaching, and that’s what I love about him. He’s a guy that’s in the building all day. Ous is a guy that’s going to take that next step this year.”
One of the keys to Kromah’s improvement will be getting a full offseason in the collegiate ranks. As mentioned, Kromah enrolled in the summer of 2025, only getting fall camp to acclimate himself to the college game. Clearly, a full offseason has paid off, as he appeared notably stronger in his interview, even though he was listed at 216 pounds, and told the press he worked on improving his “conditioning” during the offseason.
“You just want to be in great condition so you never have to come out of the game. You can always have better conditioning, in my opinion.”
In addition to his time in the weight room, Kromah told the local media how much the new facility has helped him refine his technique. As a running back, understanding the nuances of pass protection and how to play without the ball is usually what it takes to earn a coach’s trust. Not only does Kromah never want to come off the field because of his improved physicality, but also because of what he can do above the shoulders.
“Understanding certain ways to block (in pass protection) was hard for me to understand. When we got in the (virtual reality room) I would mess up. But, in the VR room, you can literally move people. So, it slows everything down and helps a tremendous amount.”
The extra work in the weight room and in the film room already began to pay off for Kromah in the Seminoles’ first scrimmage on Tuesday night. When asked about which players on offense have stood out through the first portion of camp, Kromah was the first name out of Mike Norvell’s mouth.
“Ousmane’s been exceptional throughout this camp. You see and feel his growth in all things of where he is developing. We’ve got a really good running back room.”
Norvell will need Kromah to take that next step for various reasons, but mainly because the offense is designed around FSU’s ability to run the ball and play with unique personnel groupings. Between the speed of Ashton Daniels, the depth of the running back and tight end room, and Duce Robinson’s threat on the outside, the Noles will operate in 12 personnel (1 running back, 2 tight ends) and 21 personnel (2 running backs, 1 tight end) to create mismatches for defense. It also means more playing time for Kromah.
On Monday, coach Martin said he believes the Noles can have a top-10 rushing attack in the country. Last year, under Gus Malzahn, Florida State ranked 11th. If FSU is going to take another step in the running game and as a team, expect Kromah to be at the center of it.
