Ashlynd Barker walked off Florida State’s first preseason practice with a feeling that’s hard to fake.
The Seminoles have been through a rough stretch, going 7-17 over the last two seasons, and the pressure around the program has only grown. But Barker, now in his third year with FSU, said he sees something different in this group as the 2026 season approaches.
“I was talking to K.J. (Kirkland) on the sidelines after we got off the field from a drive. I was saying, "We are going to be super good," Barker said after the first preseason practice.
"It's the first day I know, everyone can say that. I don't know why, but I just feel like there is something about this time.
The main thing is there are no egos. You can say something to someone, and they won't talk back."
That confidence matters because Barker isn’t just another voice in the locker room. He was one of Florida State’s most productive defenders last season and now steps into a bigger job with Earl Little Jr. gone to Ohio State. Barker will move into the rover spot in Tony White’s 3-3-5 defense, a role that puts him right in the middle of things.
He backed up that importance with production in 2025, finishing with 48 tackles, two pass breakups and 3.5 sacks. That sack total was the most by a Florida State defensive back since Derwin James in 2015.
Barker also likes what he sees around him in the secondary and beyond. He called it one of his favorite groups the program has had so far, pointing to how quickly the newcomers and veterans have come together.
“This is probably one of my favorite groups that we've had so far. We've added a couple new people, and we've bonded so quickly; that's a special thing," Barker said.
"The group is great. From the younger players to the older players, everybody can say something to each other, and there is no ego behind it, there is no talk back, you just listen.
You just know they are trying to help you."
Florida State opens the 2026 season at home against New Mexico State on Aug. 29, then hosts SMU on Sept. 7 before a bye. The Seminoles hit the road to face Alabama on Sept. 19, return home for Central Arkansas on Sept. 26 and Virginia on Oct. 3, then travel to Louisville on Oct. 9 and Miami on Oct. 17.
After another bye, FSU hosts Clemson on Oct. 31 before heading to Boston College on Nov. 7 and Pittsburgh on Nov. 13.
The regular season closes with NC State at home on Nov. 21 and Florida on Nov. 27.
In Other News...
FSU Coaches Are Suddenly Buzzing About A New Quarterback Option
Malachi Marshall has spent his first stretch at Florida State doing all the little things coaches want from a quarterback trying to carve out a role. The junior has leaned into the transition by building relationships, putting in extra work in the weight room and digging into film, all while keeping his focus on fall camp. Quarterbacks coach Austin Tucker has noticed the approach, and it fits the kind of steady, day-to-day climb that can matter for a player arriving with a decorated junior college rsum.
Marshall came to Tallahassee after leading Iowa Western to the 2025 NJCAA Division I national championship and collecting a stack of honors along the way, so the talent level is not the question. What makes his situation worth watching is the timing, with NCAA eligibility rules potentially in flux and every rep in camp carrying extra weight for a quarterback room trying to sort out its pecking order. For now, Marshall is simply trying to maximize each day, which is usually how a new option starts turning into a real one. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Took Another Swing At Fixing Its Secondary
Florida States latest move to reshape its defensive backfield comes with another portal addition, this time targeting a cornerback with multiple seasons still available. Karson Hobbs arrives after spending his first stretch at Notre Dame, where he got into 16 games and made one start, giving the Seminoles another experienced option as Mike Norvell continues to overhaul a defense that has seen major turnover this offseason.
The secondary has been one of the clearest areas of concern in Tallahassee, especially after the portal took a toll on the back end and left Florida State searching for answers at corner and safety. Hobbs fits the kind of swing the staff has been making, bringing a fresh body into a room that has already added four defensive backs among the 24 portal newcomers, with the bigger question now being how quickly those pieces can settle in and stabilize the unit. [Read more 🡒]