It's easy to see why Mike Norvell has such high expectations for someone like Duce Robinson.

The USC wide receiver transfer arrived at Florida State with production at this level (747 yards and seven touchdown catches) and certainly looks the part physically at 6-foot-6, 222 pounds.

When Robinson stood next to former FSU wideout Johnny Wilson during the Seminoles' Pro Day event on March 21, the resemblance in terms of body type was clear.

Entering his third season in college football and eligible to be selected in next year's NFL Draft as he arrived at FSU, Robinson appears likely to be a crucial piece of FSU's potential offensive re-emergence in 2025.

Maybe that's why Norvell seems to be pushing the transfer receiver and FSU legacy so hard in his first few months on campus.

"I'm just holding everything that he does (to the standard of), 'Is that what the best in the country is going to look like?'" Norvell said after Thursday's practice. "He's one of those guys that likes to answer that call. I've been pleased. Every day is an opportunity to continue to grow and get better but I'm seeing some good things from him."

Robinson is only two years removed from being a five-star recruit and the No. 1 tight end in the 2023 recruiting class according to Rivals. Like Wilson before him, he was out to prove he was a receiver, not a tight end despite being on the tall side for the position.

Safe to say he accomplished that mission over his two seasons at USC, so much so that Rivals ranked him this time around as the No. 8 overall prospect and No. 4 wide receiver in this year's transfer portal class.

Robinson's FSU ties -- his dad, Dominic Robinson, was a receiver at FSU from 2001-04 -- probably played at least a partial role in him choosing Tallahassee as his transfer destination. However, Robinson said after Thursday's fifth spring practice that an even bigger part of his decision was the messaging from Norvell during his portal recruitment.

"When I was being recruited here, he told me, 'Don't come here unless you're ready to be your best,' and that he's going to push me to be my best. He's really lived true to that..." Robinson said of the FSU head coach. "It means the world. I wouldn't have it any other way...It's being held to a really high standard, which I love because I try to hold myself to a really high standard. So surrounding myself with people who want that for me only makes me elevate myself."

Probably because of how relatively unproven the rest of FSU's wide receiver room was entering the offseason, with the exception of fellow transfer addition Squirrel White, there were immediately some pretty large hopes hung onto Robinson to be a spark in FSU's receiver room upon his arrival.

No doubt he was brought here because of his prior production, the leadership he could be able to provide and the weapon his large frame can be in the passing game. However, Norvell knows there's room for further improvement from Robinson this offseason, a big part of why he's pushing him so hard.

"Duce Robinson is continuing to grow in his confidence in what we're asking him to do..." Norvell said. "He didn't come here as a finished product. There's work to be done and there are things that he recognizes and embraces for opportunities to get better. That's where when you've got guys with potential to be great players, they have a great edge and desire for growth and improvement, you've got a chance."

Asked where he could stand to improve this spring, Robinson deferred to maximizing one of his top-tier traits that can't be taught.

"I think one of my biggest things (of growth) is playing like I'm 6-6," Robinson said. "I've been gifted, obviously, to be a big, physical receiver and I think I have a lot more left that I can take advantage of and become a truly physical receiver. That's been my main focus this spring and then little things like working on releases or footwork."

In two seasons at USC, Robinson caught nine of 25 contested passes thrown his way (36%) according to Pro Football Focus. It's not a bad number by any means, but it feels like it could creep up a bit closer to Wilson's 46.6% contested-catch rate over his two years at FSU.

It hasn't taken Robinson long on the practice field to see how new FSU offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn's offense is a great fit for what he brings to the table as a wide receiver.

"Coach Malzahn is going to push the ball down the field and he's going to cater to his playmakers. If you're a playmaker, he's going to give you a chance, which I love because I love the opportunity to go up there and showcase my abilities, my talents and all the work that I've put in," Robinson said. "That's one of the main reasons I came here was because of coach Malzahn and what he's established himself as, the coach he's proven himself to be and what his guys have done in the past. I want to be one of the next great players in coach Malzahn's offense and he gives his guys the opportunity to go and do that."

FSU hasn't shared much footage of practice so far this spring on its social media accounts. On X, FSU has posted just three practice clips. Two of those clips are of impressive catches made by Robinson.

That certainly speaks to Robinson's importance in the offense this year. But it also shows he's risen to the occasion in his first few practices with the Seminoles.

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