Florida State has plenty of preseason buzz coming its way, and Athlon Sports added to the conversation by placing seven Seminoles on its All-ACC teams.
Wide receiver Duce Robinson headlines the group with a first-team selection, while defensive lineman Mandrell Desir, linebacker Chris Jones and defensive back Ja’bril Rawls landed on the second team. Running back Ousmane Kromah, wide receiver/all-purpose Macahi Danzy and defensive lineman Daniel Lyons were all placed on the fourth team.
Robinson has become the face of the returning receiver room. Last season, he put together a 1,000-yard campaign with 56 catches and six touchdowns, and his stock has only kept climbing. College football analyst Phil Steele has already gone a step further, naming Robinson to his preseason All-American and All-ACC teams for 2026.
The Seminoles’ defense also drew strong recognition. Desir, Jones and Rawls are expected to be central figures on that side of the ball, and their 2025 numbers back up the hype.
Desir finished with 30 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. Jones piled up 135 tackles, added 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, and Steele tabbed him as a preseason second-team All-ACC selection. Rawls contributed one interception, one fumble return, 40 tackles and two tackles for loss, and Steele also named him second-team All-ACC.
Florida State’s defense was already solid in 2025, ranking among the top 50 in the FBS in total defense, pass defense, rushing defense and scoring defense. The hope is that Desir, Jones and Rawls can help push those numbers even higher in 2026.
Danzy gives the offense another dynamic piece. In 2025, he averaged 21 yards per catch, finished with 571 receiving yards on 27 receptions and scored three times through the air.
He also added three rushing touchdowns. His biggest splash came in the loss to Pitt, when he went for 133 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Kromah is back after averaging five yards per carry and topping 400 rushing yards last season. He did not score, though, and that will be a point of emphasis as he shares the backfield with Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner.
Lyons rounds out the group after a productive season of his own. He was one of Florida State’s top five returning tacklers, posting 26 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback pressures, two sacks and a forced fumble. His best game came against Florida, when he recorded a season-high six tackles.
After two uncharacteristic seasons, Florida State is looking for a reset. This group of recognized playmakers gives the Seminoles a chance to change the tone on the field and build toward a better 2026.
In Other News...
National Ranking Just Sent Florida State Fans A Message About Duce Robinson
Pro Football Focus annual Top 50 college football players list gave wide receivers plenty of attention, but Florida States Duce Robinson was not among the five at the position who made the cut. For a Seminoles offense trying to lean on proven playmakers, that kind of omission stands out, especially when Robinsons numbers from last season stacked up favorably against several of the receivers who did land on the list.
Robinson finished with 1,081 receiving yards, third in the ACC, and his yards per catch and receiving yards per game both sat near the top of the conference. He has already been tabbed a preseason All-American by Phil Steele and placed ninth among draft-eligible receivers, so the broader industry view on him is hardly lacking, even if one of the sports most visible rankings chose a different path. [Read more 🡒]
National Praise Is Building For FSU Everywhere But Quarterback
Athlon Sports preseason All-ACC teams gave Florida State a healthy dose of recognition, with seven Seminoles spread across four tiers and wide receiver Duce Robinson landing as the lone first-team pick. Mandrell Desir, JaBril Rawls, Chris Jones, Micahi Danzy, Ousmane Kromah and Daniel Lyons also earned spots on the list, a sign that the national view of the roster is warming to the talent around the program even as the Seminoles try to reset after consecutive disappointing seasons.
The bigger question, though, sits at the games most important position, where Florida State is still working to build trust while integrating a new offensive line and a wave of transfers. The skill talent is drawing attention, but the preseason respect stops short of answering whether the Seminoles have enough certainty under center to turn that promise into a real step forward. [Read more 🡒]