Florida State’s fall camp is starting to sort out more than just the obvious names.
Yes, Ashton Daniels, Duce Robinson, the Desir twins and Ja'Bril Rawls are still grabbing plenty of the spotlight. But as the Seminoles close in on their season opener against New Mexico State at Doak Campbell Stadium, a different group is pushing its way into the conversation. A few players have used camp and the second scrimmage to make a real case for bigger roles.
Ousmane Kromah is one of the clearest risers. The sophomore running back already finished last season as Florida State’s third-leading rusher with 408 yards, and he has carried that momentum into camp.
His blend of power and explosiveness has stood out enough to make him look like a strong candidate to handle most of the backfield work. If he keeps this up, a 1,000-yard season doesn’t sound far-fetched.
Florida State hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Cam Akers.
Samuel Singleton Jr. is right there in the mix, too. Now entering his fourth season with the program, Singleton has stayed relevant in a crowded running back room and remains in the race for carries.
Before his late-season injury last year, he was averaging 7.1 yards per attempt and showing the kind of burst that has long kept coaches interested. With Kromah and Tre Wisner drawing much of the attention, Singleton still has a path to a meaningful role - and maybe even a shot at starting opportunities as camp goes on, especially with Wisner banged up.
The newcomer generating the loudest buzz is Jasen Lopez. The true freshman wide receiver has earned repeated praise from Mike Norvell, who has pointed to both his consistency and his playmaking ability during camp.
Lopez has taken advantage of the chances he’s been given, and that has put him on the radar of both coaches and teammates. Norvell has already said Lopez is expected to contribute this season, and if this pace holds, he could work his way into the receiver rotation quickly.
On defense, Jalen Anderson is making steady progress as he adjusts to Power Four football. The junior college transfer was singled out by Norvell after Sunday’s scrimmage, and he’s continued to stack productive days while competing for the JACK spot.
The more comfortable Anderson gets with the speed and physicality, the more his confidence seems to rise. The game is slowing down for him, and that’s a good sign with Week 1 closing in.
Chris Jones looks like another transfer who could matter right away. The Southern Miss linebacker arrived in Tallahassee after piling up more than 130 tackles last season, and he has wasted no time standing out.
His physical approach and ability to disrupt plays near the line of scrimmage have made him a noticeable presence. Florida State wants size, athleticism and instincts from its linebackers, and Jones appears to be checking those boxes while easing into ACC competition.
Florida State’s schedule is now set around all of that momentum. The Seminoles open Aug. 29 against New Mexico State at 7 p.m. on CW, then host SMU on Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
After a bye on Sept. 13, they head to Alabama on Sept. 19 for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC. The rest of the slate includes Central Arkansas, Virginia, Louisville, Miami, Clemson, Boston College, Pittsburgh, NC State and Florida, with bye weeks on Sept. 13 and Oct.
In Other News...
FSU Has A Freak Athlete Fans May Soon See Very Differently
Florida State has spent a good chunk of camp trying to sort out what its offense will look like as Ashton Daniels keeps settling in at quarterback, and Mike Norvell said after the second scrimmage that the progress is there even if the whole operation still needs more consistency. Around him, the program has had a little bit of everything lately, from Eric Luallen being named the new public address voice for FSU football to recruiting activity that included 2028 defensive lineman Prince Che visiting Tallahassee, all while the soccer team gets ready to open against Stetson.
One of the more intriguing subplots, though, is Micahi Danzy, whose development keeps turning heads for reasons that go well beyond the football field. He has added notable physical growth and paired it with a standout track resume, including an ACC and Florida State record in the 400-meter run, and his athletic profile is drawing real national attention as a player who may soon be viewed in a much different way by Seminoles fans. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Landed Two Huge Chances In A Key Recruiting Battle
Florida State has picked up a pair of important chances in the race for one of the nations most coveted young defenders. Prince Che, a highly regarded defensive lineman out of Thomasville, Georgia, is set to hit campus twice this fall, giving the Seminoles multiple opportunities to make their case to a recruit who already has 38 offers and plenty of attention from major programs.
For Florida State, the calendar matters almost as much as the player. The staff sees those visits as key moments in its push for the 2028 class, and Ches return trip later in the fall should only add to the intrigue surrounding a recruitment that is still very much taking shape. With so many programs in the mix, every visit counts, and the Seminoles have lined up two of the most meaningful ones they could ask for. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Faces A Hidden Offensive Question After Tommy Castellanos
Tommy Castellanos gave Florida State a steadier edge on passing downs than the overall record suggested, and that mattered in a 5-7 season that still had pockets of offensive competence. The Seminoles were fifth nationally in passing success rate on those snaps, a useful sign that when the playbook narrowed and the pressure rose, the passing game could still function well enough to keep drives alive.
Now the job shifts to Ashton Daniels, the Auburn transfer expected to take over, and the question is less about raw talent than fit. Daniels brings a different profile as both a passer and a runner, which makes Florida States late-down offense a moving target heading into the next chapter, especially if the Seminoles are trying to preserve the kind of efficiency they found before. [Read more 🡒]