The FSU Seminoles are reportedly planning to keep athletics director and general manager of player personnel John Garrett for the 2027 season despite firing head coach Mike Norvell, but one recruiting expert believes that would be a mistake and that two other members of the front office should be retained.
Steve Wiltfong, who is the vice president of recruiting and transfer portal for On3/Rivals, took to social media on Sunday shortly after the Seminoles fired Norvell and said that Taylor Edwards (director of football and player acquisition) and Devin Rispress (director of recruiting) were not to blame for FSU's struggles attracting talent.
"New staff should keep Taylor Edwards and Devin Rispress," he wrote. "Two proven guys that walked into a situation
that had no shot of being fixed."
He also made his thoughts clear on Garrett, and believes it would be a mistake to bring him back for a second season, saying simply, "they need a new GM" after an FSU fan mentioned him.
Rispress was hired in December of 2024 and has extensive connections to the Tallahassee area. He started his collegiate career as FAMU’s director of football recruiting in 2022, a position he held for two years before leaving to become Colorado's assistant director of player personnel and high school relations. He spent nine seasons coaching high school football in the Tallahassee area before getting into college coaching.
Edwards is in his first season at FSU after they hired him away from the Miami Hurricanes on Jan. 1, 2026. He was the director of football management and personnel for the Hurricanes, and also worked in personnel or recruiting director roles for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Maryland Terrapins, Arkansas Razorbacks, UAB Blazers, Samford Bulldogs, and Alabama Crimson Tide.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Recruiting expert believes FSU 'needs a new GM'
