Kickoff is almost here for Florida State’s fourth game of the 2026 season, and the Seminoles are back in Doak Campbell Stadium for the third time this fall against Central Arkansas.
There’s a familiar link between the two programs. Mike Norvell is one of the most accomplished wide receivers in Central Arkansas history, and his coaching career also started with the Bears.
Florida State would love to turn that into a one-sided win. This is the kind of game the Seminoles need to handle cleanly before a tougher run of conference play arrives.
The bigger pregame storyline, though, is the injury situation. Florida State does not have to release ACC Availability Reports for non-conference games, so the picture comes from the program’s own updates and what was seen before kickoff.
Earlier this week, Norvell said senior running back Samuel Singleton Jr. will be out for a decent chunk of time because of a lower-body injury, though there is still a chance he could return before the end of the year. Senior linebacker Blake Nichelson is also expected to miss an extended stretch.
The Seminoles have already taken hits elsewhere, with junior safety Karson Hobbs, freshman linebacker Izayia Williams, and freshman linebacker Daylen Green all done for the season.
Last week, Florida State was also without senior safety Donny Hiebert, sophomore wide receiver Tae'Shaun Gelsey, sophomore tight end Gavin Markey, freshman cornerback Chuck Kennon, freshman safety Jordan Crutchfield, and freshman wide receiver Devin Carter.
There were some positive signs against Alabama. Sophomore defensive end Darryll Desir and senior safety K.J.
Kirkland both returned, although neither played a heavy workload. Their snap counts could rise this weekend.
Senior Rylan Kennedy left the loss early with an injury, but Norvell said he is expected to play against Central Arkansas.
Before kickoff, NoleGameday tracked the Seminoles’ availability and depth chart movement. Izayiah Williams’ season-ending injury has pushed Caleb LaVallee into a starting role, and Nichelson has been ruled out for an “extended period of time”.
With Singleton unavailable, Ousmane Kromah has moved into a starting role at running back. Micahi Danzy is listed as the kick returner with Amari Thomas.
Desir was not listed on the depth chart and did not take any team reps. Gelsey was seen fully dressed and warming up with the offense.
Crutchfield joined Kirkland in pregame warmups, though he had a strap on his upper left arm. DB Ashlynd Barker was warming up with a heavy cast on his right arm.
Kennedy was also seen warming up with the team before the game.
In Other News...
Florida Broadcast Stirred A Debate Fans Couldn't Ignore
Floridas 52-28 win over Ole Miss gave the Gators plenty to celebrate at home, with the victory pushing them to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2019 and delivering their first top-five win since 2018. But as the game rolled on, a separate moment from the broadcast started to take on a life of its own, pulling attention away from the scoreboard and into the stands.
A camera operator lingered on a female fan during the telecast, and the shot quickly became a topic of debate across social media as viewers questioned the intent behind it. It turned into one of those odd television side stories that hangs around long after the final whistle, adding an unexpected layer to a night Florida otherwise wanted to define by a statement win. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Depth Chart Hints At A Real Preseason Shakeup
Florida States updated depth chart for Saturdays game against Central Arkansas offered an early look at how the Seminoles are sorting through the roster after a recent wave of changes. The two-deep release mapped out starters and backups across offense, defense and special teams, but the most noticeable movement came in the backfield and along the edge, where the staff has already started reshaping some roles.
Samuel Singleton Jr. was removed from the chart because of injury, and his absence leaves the running back picture altered as Florida State settles on its next options. Defensive end also saw some adjustment, a reminder that the first weeks of the season can move quickly and that the Seminoles are still making real-time evaluations before the games become even more consequential. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Took An Unusual Hit In Its 2027 Class
Florida States 2027 recruiting class took a small but unusual detour when Meshi Dobson decided to slide back into the 2028 cycle while staying committed to the Seminoles. Dobson, a three-star defensive end, had originally reclassified from 2028 to 2027 before joining Florida States pledge list, so the move changes his timeline more than his destination.
Even with Dobson still in the fold, the adjustment trims Florida States 2027 group to 16 verbal commitments and drops the class a bit in the national pecking order. For a program trying to build early momentum on the trail, it is the kind of shift that does not change the long-term relationship but does alter the immediate numbers and the shape of the class. [Read more 🡒]