Florida State’s bye week comes with plenty of football problems to sort through, but the recruiting board may be just as important. With the Seminoles sitting at 1-1 and Mike Norvell under heat, several targets are weighing what they’ve seen from the program so far, and a few key names are starting to separate into clear concern, clear comfort, and long-shot chase territory.
The biggest worry right now is 2027 four-star defensive back Za'Kari Johnson. Florida State landed his commitment after he reclassified from the 2028 class, but the ground has shifted fast.
Johnson has been to College Station to meet with Texas A&M and then traveled to Miami to watch the Hurricanes face Florida A&M. He has repeatedly said Miami is a program he has always been a massive fan of, and the flip buzz around him is getting louder.
There is one possible wrinkle that could keep Johnson in the Seminoles’ class: Miami’s numbers. The Hurricanes already have five commitments in the 2027 secondary, and that could limit room for Johnson even if the interest is real. That would be a help for Florida State, though not exactly the kind of recruiting victory that inspires confidence.
On the other side of the ledger, four-star safety Ta'Shawn Poole looks far more secure. The 2027 FSU commit is scheduled to come back for at least two more games this season, and he has already mapped out what he needs to improve before arriving on campus in a few months. Right now, his December signing looks increasingly likely.
Florida State has also spent time trying to pry away a pair of Nebraska commitments in the 2027 class, but the Seminoles haven’t created much traction. Defensive line pledge Errol Demontagnac was in the building for the loss to SMU, and he needed to see a cleaner showing from Florida State to move any closer. Instead, the Seminoles came up short, and it sounds like more than a competitive loss will be needed to change his mind.
The same goes for offensive lineman Timi Aliu. He left his Week 0 visit with a positive view of Florida State and still says his Nebraska commitment is solid.
But his upcoming trip to Florida raises the stakes. If Aliu were to end up with the Gators after visiting Tallahassee to open the season, that would be a rough look for Norvell.
He is one of the few offensive linemen in the 2027 cycle with a close relationship to Florida State, so losing him would force the staff back to square one if the position remains a priority.
The offensive line issue extends beyond the current cycle, which is why Florida State is also working early in 2028. The Seminoles need help up front either through the 2027 class or the transfer portal before next season, but they also need to keep the problem from repeating itself. One way to do that is to land a top prospect early.
IMG Academy offensive tackle Nation Farmer fits that bill. Florida State hosted him for the SMU game, and even with the messy circumstances around that day, Farmer came away with a positive impression of his visit.
The Seminoles will need to stay on him because plenty of programs are involved. He has also said he wants to stay close to home for college, which helps Florida State, but Tennessee is viewed as the clear leader by a wide margin.
Norvell would need a major pitch to make Farmer pause.
Another big 2028 name on the board is four-star defensive lineman Prince Che, who is being pursued heavily by Florida State and is seen as one of the best prizes in the class. His recruitment is still wide open, with Clemson and Florida narrowly ahead at the moment.
Georgia, Clemson, Florida, and Texas are all in the mix, but Florida State is still alive. That alone gives the Seminoles a chance to make a real statement if they can get traction with a prospect who could swing momentum in the class.
In Other News...
Mandrell Desir Is Testing Florida State Fans After Rough Opener
Mandrell Desirs Week 1 outing against SMU gave Florida State fans plenty to chew on, and not in a good way. The Seminoles defensive back drew attention for a rough performance and for a bizarre pre-snap moment when he mimicked a basketball dribble, a flash that only added to the scrutiny as supporters picked apart his role in the opener.
After the criticism piled up, Desir went to social media with a dismissive response, while defensive coordinator Tony White moved to calm things down from the football side. White said no disciplinary action would be taken and framed the sequence as part of Desirs style, leaving the bigger question less about punishment and more about how quickly the Seminoles can turn the conversation back to play on the field. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Fans Need To Look Past Deions Name In This Debate
Florida States recent slide has pushed every coaching conversation into sharper focus, and Mike Norvells struggles have made the Seminoles a program searching for a clearer path forward. Deion Sanders will always be an obvious name in that discussion because of his ties to the school and the attention he commands, but the real question for FSU is whether a splashy hire would actually solve what has gone wrong on the field.
Sanders early work at Colorado has given supporters plenty to argue about on both sides, yet there are fair questions about how sustainable that model is once key players move on and the roster has to be rebuilt again. Florida State already has a major brand and a recruiting base that should matter in any search, so the bigger debate is whether the next coach needs nostalgia and headlines or a more durable answer to the programs deeper problems. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Suddenly Has A Real Miami Recruiting Threat
Florida States 2027 recruiting efforts are already feeling the pressure around ZaKari Johnson, the four-star commit who has become one of the most important names in the class. Johnson has long been viewed as a key piece for the Seminoles, so any movement in his recruitment carries extra weight, especially when a rival like Miami enters the picture with real momentum.
Johnson recently said Miami has been his dream school, and he is set to visit Hard Rock Stadium for a Hurricanes game, which only sharpens the concern for Florida State. A flip would sting not just because of the player involved, but because it would give Miami a major victory in a head-to-head battle for a coveted prospect, putting added scrutiny on the Seminoles' coaching staff and the rest of the class. [Read more 🡒]