The Battle's End joins forces with two Seminoles who could play pivotal roles in 2023
NIL has become a crucial tool for player retention and there aren't many programs taking advantage of it as well as Florida State. Since December, the Seminoles have had a number of key starters and rotational pieces from a season ago announce their return to Tallahassee. Part of that success can be attributed to The Battle's End NIL Collective which has burst onto the scene with a flurry.
READ MORE: Updated Spring Roster Sheds Light on Notable Weight Changes for plethora of Seminoles
Stars such as quarterback Jordan Travis, running back Trey Benson, wide receiver Johnny Wilson, defensive end Jared Verse, and defensive tackle Fabien Lovett have all inked deals with The Battle's End over the last couple of months.
Due to changes in state law, TBE was also recently able to officially partner with Florida State Athletics and began accepting public donations from fans. Since then, head coach Mike Norvell has been able to endorse the collective via video and on social media.
The Battle's End doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
On Thursday, the collective announced that it had secured a deal with redshirt sophomore Shyheim Brown. A day later, wide receiver Winston Wright joined forces with TBE as well. Both players have an opportunity to play pivotal roles for the Seminoles in 2023.
Brown burst onto the scene early last season after securing Florida State's 24-23 victory against LSU by blocking an extra point on the final play of regulation. He carved out a role in the safety rotation, passing up veteran Jarques McClellion as the third man behind Jammie Robinson and Akeem Dent. Brown ended up earning extra time with Dent banged up at different points of the season.
The Florida native appeared in all 13 games, with two starts, and totaled 36 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one fumble recovery, and a blocked kick. With Robinson moving on to the NFL, Brown is expected to play a bigger role in his third year with the program. In preparation for an uptick in snaps, he's added 12 pounds and sits at 217 entering the spring.
Moving over to Wright, his injury is squarely in the rearview mirror and Norvell says he has no limitations with the team hitting the practice field on Monday. A video surfaced on Friday of Wright squatting well over 400 pounds, showing that he's come a long way since injuring his leg as a passenger in a car accident. He didn't play a snap last season but if begins to show signs of his old self, it'll be huge for the Seminoles.
Wright was a proven producer and big play threat during his three years at West Virginia. While with the Mountaineers, he caught 129 passes for 1338 yards and seven touchdowns on offense while returning 50 kickoffs for 1,236 yards and two touchdowns. Wright could play a role at wide receiver and on special teams.
READ MORE: Mike Norvell, Josh Storms provide promising update on FSU WR Winston Wright
Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the 2023 offseason.
