Florida State’s grip on 4-star athlete Za’Kari Johnson is suddenly looking a lot less secure.
Johnson, a Miami Carol City High School standout who reclassified to the 2027 class before committing to the Seminoles in July, is now scheduled to take a Week 1 game-day visit to Texas A&M as the Aggies host Missouri State. That trip comes a little over three months before the early signing period, and it signals that the recruitment he said was closed down after his Florida State pledge may be opening back up.
The timing is rough for Florida State. Johnson is the fifth-highest-ranked commit in the Seminoles’ 34th-ranked 2027 class, a group Mike Norvell and first-year general manager John Garrett had to work hard to build this summer. But with Florida State coming off back-to-back losing seasons, that class already looks vulnerable, and Johnson’s visit is a clear warning shot.
He’s not likely to be the only one.
There’s a real sense that uncertainty in Tallahassee could push other FSU commits to look around as well. Garrett’s future as general manager may not be directly tied to Norvell’s, and that may have helped Florida State sell recruits on the idea that they were committing to Garrett’s vision.
Even so, that kind of pitch only goes so far when the head coach attached to the class might not be around. For 17- and 18-year-olds, the pull to keep options open gets stronger fast, even with NIL and revenue-sharing money in the mix.
Texas A&M is a particularly dangerous place for Florida State to have to defend against.
The Aggies are operating with the kind of financial firepower Florida State can’t match. The SEC’s television deal dwarfs the ACC’s, and even after the ACC adjusted its revenue distribution following Florida State and Clemson’s 2023 lawsuit, the Seminoles still aren’t pulling in SEC-level money. On top of that, Florida State athletic director Michael Alford has already misread the NIL era multiple times, most recently by expecting the revenue-sharing cap from last summer’s House v NCAA settlement to be strictly enforced while schools like Texas A&M kept spending well beyond it.
CBS reported that Texas A&M is spending well over $30 million on its 2026 roster, and roster incentives could push that figure past $40 million.
Then there’s Norvell’s buyout. If Florida State moves on from him this season, the school would owe $51 million, a hit that would soak up a huge chunk of any fundraising effort. Even in a historic year for the athletic department, that money would likely be going toward paying Norvell to leave unless he can engineer a major turnaround.
In Other News...
FSUs Passing Attack Suddenly Looks Tougher To Defend
Florida States season opener offered a useful first look at an offense that may be tougher to pin down than it was a year ago. Ashton Daniels settled in by completing 17 passes for 202 yards, and the ball was moved around to a wide range of targets, with Samuel Singleton Jr., Micahi Danzy, Duce Robinson and Jayvan Boggs all getting involved. The variety stood out as much as the production, because the Seminoles were not leaning on one obvious go-to option.
Instead, Daniels spread throws to seven different pass catchers, a sign this receiving group is built on more than just one trait. Robinson and Danzy looked like key pieces because of the size, speed and versatility they bring, and that mix gives Florida State more ways to stress a defense from snap to snap. For an offense still finding its rhythm, that kind of balance can be the difference between being predictable and becoming a problem. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Is Suddenly In The Mix For A Georgia Flip Target
Committed prospects across Georgia are starting to treat game days like open houses, and the ripple effect is being felt well beyond the state line. Nebraska offensive line commit Timi Aliu has already checked out Florida State while still holding to his pledge to the Cornhuskers, a reminder that visits do not always equal movement, but they do keep doors cracked open for programs trying to stay in the conversation.
Alabama, meanwhile, is pushing hard on UConn cornerback commit Preston Glasco, who is set to take a game-day visit to Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide continue working the flip market. The broader schedule also has Stanford commit Marquis Fennell heading to Georgia Tech and West Virginia commit Jacobi Pasley lined up for a Florida visit, while the latest slate of game-day stops for top 2028 offensive prospects in Georgia only underscores how much recruiting traffic is building before the season really settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Still Has A Shot With One Electric Georgia Playmaker
Marquis Fennells recruitment is still unfolding, and Florida State remains in the mix as the Valdosta High standout keeps his options open. The Georgia playmaker, who earned the states 6A offensive player of the year honor, is currently committed to Stanford, but he has not shut down the process and continues to stay in contact with other programs while sorting through the next step.
Fennell has visits lined up elsewhere, including Georgia Tech, and his final decision may hinge in part on how Stanford looks under new coach Tavita Pritchard. For Florida State, that at least leaves the door cracked for a player with the kind of electric production that always draws attention, even after a commitment is already on the books. [Read more 🡒]