Florida State’s fall camp is wrapped, and a few Seminoles made sure their names were impossible to ignore.
With coach Mike Norvell turning his attention to the Aug. 29 opener against New Mexico State at Doak Campbell Stadium, the camp honors went to sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah and Southern Miss transfer Chris Jones. Kromah was named the offensive MVP, while Jones earned defensive MVP recognition after quickly settling in as one of the team’s most impactful additions.
Kromah looks ready to make a real jump in his second season. He stacked explosive runs throughout camp, pairing power with better elusiveness and giving the offense a playmaker who can tilt things in a hurry.
He’s expected to share the backfield with Tre Wisner, with Samuel Singleton also part of the mix, but he clearly separated himself enough to become one of the group’s most dangerous weapons. Norvell has pushed him to stand out, and Kromah appears to be answering.
Jones brought a different kind of edge. The linebacker arrived after piling up more than 130 tackles last season at Southern Miss, and that production showed up again in Tallahassee.
Coaches and teammates have praised his intensity and leadership, and he looks like the exact kind of aggressive linebacker Ernie Sims wants in his defense. At this point, Jones has the look of a player who could sit at the center of what Florida State does on that side of the ball.
There were other standouts, too, including two freshmen who turned camp into an early audition for bigger roles. Jasen Lopez drew the most attention on offense.
The true freshman has been a consistent buzz generator since arriving, and Norvell has repeatedly said the staff plans to find ways to get him on the field. Lopez may not have the size of some of the veteran receivers, but his versatility and playmaking have stood out, and he also got work as a punt returner.
That only strengthens his case for early snaps.
On defense, Izayia Williams made up for lost time. The true freshman linebacker missed spring practice, but he wasted little time showing speed, pursuit and a real feel for the football.
Tony White has stressed relentless pursuit, and Williams has fit that mold, including an interception during a scrimmage. Even with a crowded linebacker room, he has pushed himself into the playing-time conversation and at minimum looks ready to help on special teams.
In between those freshmen, Florida State also found a major rise from Tae'Shaun Gelsey. The second-year receiver has climbed in a loaded room and now looks like a legitimate option for meaningful snaps behind Duce Robinson, Micahi Danzy and Jayvan Boggs.
At 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds, Gelsey has used his frame to create mismatches and shown enough versatility to move around the formation. After a strong camp, he looks poised to become a dependable target for quarterback Ashton Daniels.
Up front, Herb Hand didn’t hesitate when asked which offensive lineman had been the most steady. His answer was Nate Pabst.
The Bowling Green transfer has given Florida State exactly what coaches want from a line in flux: versatility and reliability. He’s worked at both guard and tackle, and while the starting five is still not set, Pabst has put himself in position to claim one of those spots.
At 6-foot-7, the senior has brought needed stability to a unit still sorting out its best combinations.
Daniel Lyons also made a strong push in the trenches. The veteran defensive tackle is entering his fifth and final season at Florida State, and camp showed a player operating with more confidence and aggression.
The Desir twins have drawn plenty of attention on the defensive front, but Lyons quietly put together one of the strongest camps on the roster. With five career sacks entering the season, he’s expected to be a significant presence in the middle of the line.
Florida State now moves from camp mode to game prep, with the season opener against New Mexico State set for Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. on CW. The Seminoles’ 2026 schedule also includes SMU on Sept. 7, a trip to Alabama on Sept. 19, visits to Louisville, Miami and Pittsburgh, and home games against Virginia, Clemson, NC State and Florida.
In Other News...
Mike Norvell Just Gave Florida State Fans Another Reason To Groan
Florida State fans got another reminder this week that Mike Norvell is willing to break from convention. Even with Ashton Daniels already named the starting quarterback, Norvell has decided the Seminoles will not release depth charts during game weeks for the 2026 season, starting with the Week 0 matchup against New Mexico State. It is the kind of move that immediately stands out in college football, where teams usually give at least a snapshot of who is likely to line up where.
For a fan base already eager for clarity, the choice only adds to the noise around a program trying to steady itself and build trust heading into a new season. Depth charts do not decide games, but they do help set expectations, and Florida State will now be keeping that information in-house when opponents and supporters are looking for every clue they can get. The decision has already drawn criticism from fans and media, and it leaves one more question hanging over a team that could have used a quieter offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Norvells Quarterback Problem At FSU Just Got Harder To Ignore
Mike Norvells quarterback track record at Florida State has become one of the clearest pressure points of his tenure. The Seminoles have repeatedly chased answers at the most important position, but the results have not matched the recruiting buzz, and the program has leaned on transfer quarterbacks to open multiple seasons in a row.
Luke Kromenhoeks path only sharpens the concern. Once the highest-ranked quarterback recruit Norvell signed in Tallahassee, he transferred twice and then lost a starting competition at South Florida, a reminder that the Seminoles still have not found a true homegrown fix. Since 2020, Norvell has brought in several blue-chip passers, yet the overall production, starts and staying power have remained limited, leaving the position group a lingering issue the staff cannot keep skirting. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Lands A Proven Outfielder With One Huge Roster Catch
Florida State has added a veteran piece to its future outfield plans, with former Pitt and UCF standout AJ Nessler committing to the Seminoles for the 2027 roster. Nessler brings a long college track record to Tallahassee, having played in more than 150 games already, and his Pitt season showed why he remains an attractive transfer target. He started 56 games there and posted a .310 average with a .410 on-base percentage while swiping 13 bases in 14 tries.
The fit is obvious on paper: a proven bat, speed on the bases and experience against college pitching. The catch is the same one that hangs over the entire move, since Nessler is reportedly eligible for an extra season because of a court ruling in California, leaving the exact shape of his future timeline still to be sorted out. For Florida State, though, the commitment at least adds a player with real production and plenty of game reps to a roster that can use both. [Read more 🡒]