Florida State Football Faces Roster Exodus as Mike Norvell Enters Pivotal Offseason
After a brutal 2-10 campaign in 2024, Florida State fans were hoping it was just a fluke - a strange outlier in an otherwise upward trajectory under Mike Norvell. The Seminoles even opened 2025 with a promising 3-0 start, sparking optimism that the program had righted the ship.
But that early momentum vanished as quickly as it came. Florida State closed the season at 5-7, missing a bowl game and leaving the fanbase with more questions than answers.
Despite back-to-back disappointing seasons, Norvell will remain at the helm - in part because his buyout is too steep for the university to stomach. Financially, it’s a pragmatic move. But when you look around college football and see programs like LSU and Penn State willing to absorb massive buyouts in pursuit of a better future, it’s fair to wonder whether Florida State is playing it too safe.
And the early signs from the Transfer Portal suggest that gamble may already be backfiring.
Key Departures Signal Trouble Ahead
The portal doesn’t officially open until January 2nd, but Florida State is already feeling the sting of roster attrition. Several players the coaching staff had penciled in as key contributors for 2026 are either headed to the NFL or looking for a fresh start elsewhere.
Quarterback Tommy Castellanos, defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr., and tight end Duce Robinson are all off to the NFL - a trio of losses that hits both sides of the ball. But it’s the volume of transfers that’s raising the most eyebrows.
Florida State’s defensive line is getting gutted. James Williams, LaJesse Harrold, Jayson Jenkins, Tyeland Coleman, Jaden Jones, and Jamorie Flagg are all entering the portal. While some of those names were depth pieces, the sheer number of exits makes it nearly impossible to maintain continuity in the trenches - the area where games are so often won or lost.
Then there’s the case of Jayvan Boggs. The true freshman wideout was one of the few bright spots early in the season, earning a starting role right out of the gate.
But rather than becoming a featured weapon in the offense, Boggs saw his role diminish as the year wore on. Now, he’s looking elsewhere - a tough pill to swallow for a team that desperately needs young playmakers.
Coaching Decisions Fuel the Fire
One of the more puzzling moves this offseason was the dismissal of defensive backs coach Pat Surtain Sr. By all accounts, Surtain was not the issue in Tallahassee.
Yet his departure has triggered a wave of exits from the secondary. Ashlynd Barker, Ja’Bril Rawls, and Edwin Joseph - three of the best defensive backs on the roster - are all gone.
That’s not just a loss of talent; it’s a loss of leadership and experience in a position group that was already thin.
And it’s not just the defense feeling the heat. Florida State’s running back room is also being hit hard. Gavin Sawchuk, Kam Davis, and Jaylin Lucas are all entering the portal, leaving a gaping hole in a rushing attack that already struggled to find consistency in 2025.
A Roster in Flux, A Program at a Crossroads
When you step back and look at the full picture, nearly every position group on Florida State’s roster is taking a hit. And this isn’t just the typical offseason churn. These are core players - guys who were expected to be foundational pieces for 2026 and beyond - walking out the door.
That kind of turnover is hard to overcome in any program, but it’s especially concerning for a team that hasn’t exactly lit up the Transfer Portal in recent years. Florida State’s recent portal additions have been hit-or-miss, and with Norvell’s job security in question, top-tier transfers may be reluctant to buy into what’s currently being sold in Tallahassee.
The reality is, this offseason could very well determine Mike Norvell’s future. The next few weeks will be critical - not just in terms of who leaves, but who (if anyone) chooses to come in. The Seminoles are facing a roster rebuild at a time when stability is desperately needed.
There’s no sugarcoating it: Florida State is in a precarious spot. The program has talent, but it’s leaking at an alarming rate.
And unless Norvell can reverse the trend - fast - the 2026 season could end up looking a lot like the last two. For a program with championship aspirations, that’s a scenario no one wants to see repeated.