Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List once again put Florida State in the spotlight, and this year two Seminoles cracked the top 60.
The Athletic’s list, which Feldman has compiled since 2005 to highlight college football players whose physical gifts make teammates, coaches and NFL scouts take notice, expanded to 101 players and was led by South Carolina receiver Nyck Harbor. Florida State showed up twice, with Micahi Danzy landing at No. 12 and Mandrell Desir coming in at No. 57.
Danzy’s rise was the biggest leap of the two after he was slotted at No. 68 a year ago. Feldman pointed to the speed that jumps off the field as much as it does on a stopwatch.
"His blazing speed had rival defensive coordinators sweating, as he averaged 42.2 yards on his six touchdowns last season," Feldman wrote. "He caught 27 passes for 571 yards and three touchdowns and gained 216 more yards on 12 carries with three touchdowns."
The numbers only tell part of Danzy’s story. Since arriving at Florida State, he has added significant size without giving up the track speed that makes him one of the fastest athletes in the sport. Feldman said Danzy has gone from about 185 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame in 2024 to around 200 pounds now, and he cleaned 335 pounds this summer.
That burst still shows up in a big way. Danzy is one of the top 400-meter runners in college track and set both an ACC and Florida State record with a 44.38 at last year’s ACC outdoor championships, a mark that had him ranked ninth in the world heading into NCAA nationals. Feldman also leaned on Florida State’s GPS data.
"Danzy hits 23 mph on Catapult, and Noles coaches point out that he does it in football situations, not speed work," Feldman wrote.
Desir’s place on the list came after a freshman season that already put him in some exclusive company in Tallahassee. He finished with 30 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
"Only Noles legend Ron Simmons and future first-rounder Brian Burns had more sacks as true freshmen," Feldman wrote.
Feldman also noted Desir’s offseason strength numbers, saying he bench pressed 405 pounds and squatted 515, while his top speed repeatedly clocks in at 20.2 mph on GPS tracking.
In Other News...
Florida State Has A New Quarterback Battle Fans Need To Watch
Fall camp has given Florida State a fresh subplot under center, and it involves a newcomer who arrived only in May. Junior transfer Malachi Marshall has drawn attention from Mike Norvell for the way he has thrown the ball and for how quickly he has absorbed the offense, making him one of the more interesting developments as the Seminoles sort through their quarterback room.
Behind presumed starter Ashton Daniels, the backup job is still very much up for grabs, and that has put Marshall in direct competition with sophomore Kevin Sperry. With the season getting closer and the depth chart still unsettled, Florida State has a legitimate battle to monitor in the weeks ahead, one that could reshape how the Seminoles feel about their quarterback insurance policy. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Suddenly Has A Secondary Problem Tony White Must Solve
Florida States secondary took another hit with Karson Hobbs going down in camp, forcing the Seminoles to rework a part of the defense that had already been under the microscope. Hobbs was expected to help stabilize the nickel spot, and his absence leaves defensive coordinator Tony White with one less experienced option as he tries to sort out how the back end fits together.
The immediate answer appears to be Duke transfer MaKhi Jones, who is now the presumptive starter at nickel. But the larger issue is what comes behind him, because the depth chart there is suddenly thin and the staff may have to shuffle personnel to keep the defense balanced. For White, it is the kind of adjustment that can ripple through the entire secondary before the season even gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Is Giving Sebastian Janikowski A Rare Program Honor
Florida State is preparing to put one of its most recognizable special-teams stars in a class of his own. The university announced that Sebastian Janikowski will have his No. 38 jersey retired during the Seminoles 2026 season opener against New Mexico State, adding a rare layer of distinction to a player who was already an All-American and a two-time Lou Groza Award winner during his run in Tallahassee from 1997 to 1999.
Janikowski went on to a long NFL career, most notably with the Raiders, but his Florida State legacy has never really faded in the building at Doak Campbell Stadium. He will be officially honored with an in-game recognition as part of the ceremony, a fitting stage for a program that does not hand out jersey retirements often and clearly views this as one of its special nods to a former standout. [Read more 🡒]