Florida State had a few things worth noticing this week, and not all of them were tied to Saturday’s football opener. Between a late roster addition for Link Jarrett, a rare stumble for women’s soccer, and some preseason movement in the backfield, there’s plenty for Seminoles fans to sort through.
Link Jarrett appears to have found a useful extra piece for the 2027 roster after Pitt transfer AJ Nessler was ruled eligible for this season based on a California court ruling he was part of. The NCAA was granted a stay last week against Judge Charlotte Sweeney’s earlier ruling in a federal court in Colorado, which had given all Class of 2022 athletes a fifth year of eligibility for the 2026-27 athletic year. But athletes who were named plaintiffs in eligibility lawsuits at the state or local level and won a temporary restraining order against the NCAA remain eligible, and Nessler falls into that group.
Nessler, a Tampa Jesuit High School product, has already logged more than 150 games over four seasons since arriving at Pitt in 2022. He also spent the 2024 season at UCF before going back to Pitt.
Last year, he started all but one of Pitt’s 57 games, with 37 of those starts coming in center field. He hit .310/.410/.496 with nine home runs and 14 stolen bases.
With Florida State’s outfield already featuring returners John Stuetzer and Brody DeLamielleure, Georgia transfer Ty Peeples, and 6-foot-6 freshman Genson Veras, Nessler gives Jarrett another layer of depth.
On the women’s soccer side, Florida State’s long run of dominance in regular-season non-conference play finally ended Sunday in Gainesville. The unranked Gators beat No. 3 Florida State 3-1, snapping a streak of 36 straight non-conference regular-season wins that dated back to 2019.
The loss drops the Seminoles to 3-1 on the season. Their wins have come against Stetson, FIU, and Florida Atlantic. Next up is another road test against an SEC opponent, with defending national champion Florida State heading to Athens to face Georgia on Thursday night.
The defeat to Florida also ended another streak, since FSU had won eight straight against its in-state rival. That was the longest winning streak either side had ever put together in the rivalry. Freshman forward Ryder Ajeto scored Florida State’s only goal, the second of her career.
In football news, one of Florida State’s biggest offseason additions is back in the mix. Former Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner missed much of fall camp because of an injury, which gave rising sophomore Ousmane Kromah a chance to emerge as the clear RB1 in a rotation with Wisner and Samuel Singleton Jr.
Now Wisner is healthy again. Mike Norvell said in his first game-week press conference of the season on Monday that Wisner is ready to play in Week 0 when the Seminoles host New Mexico State. With Norvell not releasing a depth chart this season, the exact order in the backfield remains something to watch.
There’s also recruiting movement on the quarterback front. Chaminade-Madonna junior Brady Quinn is ranked No. 22 nationally among quarterbacks and is the highest-rated uncommitted QB in Florida. He isn’t on the level of IMG’s Jayden Wade or American Heritage’s Neimann Lawrence, but he would still be a major pickup for Florida State.
Quinn is being patient in his recruitment, though things could pick up now that he has game-day visits lined up this fall with UCLA and Florida State. Steve Wiltfong of On3 reported the scheduled visit to Tallahassee on Monday.
In Other News...
Florida State Opener Suddenly Comes With A Troubling Availability Concern
Mike Norvells latest injury update gave Florida State a clearer picture heading into its opener against New Mexico State, and one key piece of the offense appears to be in doubt. Wide receiver Devin Carter is likely to miss the game after getting hurt during camp, while running back Tre Wisner is expected to be available as the Seminoles get ready to kick off the season.
There is still some uncertainty beyond Carters status, though. Tight end Chase Loftin and freshman linebacker Izayia Williams are both working back from minor injuries, and their availability will be monitored as the game progresses, leaving Florida State with a few moving parts to sort through before and during the opener. [Read more 🡒]
FSUs Devin Carter Injury Just Changed A Big WR Question
Florida State got a little clarity on one of its younger receivers this week, and it comes at a time when the Seminoles are already sorting through what the rotation might look like early in the season. Devin Carter is expected to miss the opener because of a back injury, but under the NCAAs new eligibility structure, that absence will not cost him a season the way it might have in the past.
The change matters well beyond Carters case. With eligibility now tied to a five-year window from high school graduation and redshirts effectively gone, Florida State can use freshmen more freely and still keep them on track long term. For a team trying to piece together its receiving depth, that opens the door for more young players to see the field right away without the old calculations hanging over every snap. [Read more 🡒]
Former FSU QB's Texas Tech Move Says Plenty Right Now
The NCAAs new 5-for-5 eligibility model has already started to reshape the quarterback market, and Thomas Castellanos is the latest example of how quickly it can move. The former Florida State quarterback, who began his college career in 2022, was granted a temporary restraining order that allowed him back into college football, then landed at Texas Tech just before the Red Raiders opened their season.
For Florida State fans, the move is another reminder of how fluid the modern roster landscape has become, especially for players who can still find another stop and another shot. Castellanos went undrafted and spent time at a Miami Dolphins mini camp without signing, which kept his path to college eligibility open under current conference rules, and now Texas Tech gets the benefit of that unusual timeline even as the full significance of the move continues to settle in. [Read more 🡒]