FootballScoop Names FSU Football GM Darrick Yray Player Personnel Director of the Year
Florida State's best season in nearly a decade has the program back squarely in the national focus as one of the top contenders in the sport. A lot of that credit goes to head coach Mike Norvell for slowly building the Seminoles back into a renowned program. With being said, there are plenty of others who deserve recognition as well for their contributions along the way.
On Wednesday, FootballScoop announced that it was naming FSU General Manager of Player Personnel Darrick Yray the 2023 Player Personnel Director of the Year. The award was voted on by prior winners such as Will Redmond (LSU, 2022), Marshall Malchow (Georgia, 2017), Jody Wright (Alabama, 2016), and Mark Pantoni (Ohio State, 2014).
Yray was quick to shift the praise from himself to those he works with at Florida State, calling the honor "a staff award and a reflection of everyone's hard work."
Since bring hired by Florida State in February of 2022, the program has compiled a 23-4 overall record with an ACC Championship and Cheez-It Bowl victory. Yray has played an integral role in recruiting and scouting efforts, helping the Seminoles always stay one step ahead in the NCAA Transfer Portal. That has trickled over into high school recruiting as well as the 2024 class was the program's top haul under Norvell since his arrival in Tallahassee over four years ago.
FSU landed key transfers such as wide receiver Keon Coleman, tight end Jaheim Bell, and defensive tackle Braden Fiske last offseason. All three players move onto the NFL after one season in garnet and gold.
Yray's impact is already being felt in 2024 as the Seminoles brought in two transfers from his former program. Oregon State transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and defensive end Sione Lolohea both are spending their final seasons of eligibility at Florida State.
“Darrick has truly become my right-hand man when it comes to personnel,” Norvell said to FootballScoop.“When we hired him, we were looking for someone who could come in and oversee the entirety of roster management. He’s great at evaluation, but he also understands the (NCAA Transfer) Portal, building and maintaining relationships.”
“He really has a cohesive approach to the entire process,” Norvell continued. “He’s truly outstanding at what he does. This is a new age, and I couldn’t think of anyone better at managing a personnel operation than Darrick.”
The Fresno State graduate began his coaching career with his alma mater before moving to Oregon State in 2015. He worked his way up the ladder from Assistant Director of Player Personnel to Director of Player Personnel with the Beavers prior to making the jump to Florida State.
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