The NCAA’s latest eligibility ruling could hand Florida State a late-summer fix at one of its messiest spots.
On Wednesday, a court in Louisiana granted Class of 2022 football players, including those currently in NFL training camps, a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. That decision allows those players to return to college and requires the NCAA to open a transfer portal window for them. It comes after the NCAA’s new five-in-five, age-based eligibility rules, which removed redshirts from college athletics, sparked a wave of legal challenges when the organization declined to grandfather in Class of 2022 players who used up their eligibility in four years.
A month earlier, players in that class had already won an injunction in Colorado, but that ruling only covered athletes who had not signed pro contracts and did not allow portal movement. The Louisiana order changes the picture significantly, and with Week 0 only 10 days away, the possibility of late roster movement is suddenly very real.
For Florida State, the timing matters because Mike Norvell has already said he’s been in contact with former players about coming back. Before this latest ruling, Tommy Castellanos and Elijah Herring were the only players who could potentially return, though Castellanos’ lawsuit to enter the portal made it clear a reunion wasn’t exactly a mutual priority.
Now the list of possible returnees includes players in NFL camps, and one name jumps off the page: Jerry Wilson.
Wilson, who is currently in LA Chargers training camp after going undrafted this spring, looks like the most logical fit if Florida State wants to add a Class of 2022 player late in the preseason. At this stage, adding someone is a little like trying to catch up to a train already in motion. There may be movement now that these players can enter the portal, but most of it figures to happen at the lower levels, where a more talented athlete can still make a difference even without a full grasp of the system.
That makes a reunion the cleanest solution for a Power 4 team. Florida State could use help along the offensive line after departures, but none of the starters from that group were from the Class of 2022. The more obvious opening is in the secondary, where a Karson Hobbs injury has already forced some shuffling and the battle for CB2 opposite Ja’Bril Rawls has been far from settled.
Right now, Quindarrius Jones appears to be ahead of South Alabama transfer Nehemiah Chandler and Charles Lester III. Chandler may also slide inside to compete for nickel snaps with Ma’Khi Jones, who is more of a safety type, and Ricky Knight III. That leaves the Seminoles thin on the outside, and that matters because the corner lined up across from Rawls is going to see plenty of targets.
Wilson is not a flawless answer. At 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, he isn’t a strong tackler, and opponents went after him often last season. But he does bring real ball production, with three interceptions and three pass breakups, and he fits well in Tony White’s zone-heavy approach on the back end.
If he doesn’t make the Chargers, he’d likely be a better bet than Jones, who is coming off a season-ending injury.
This wouldn’t be the kind of move that suddenly puts Florida State in ACC title contention. But it could make the Seminoles a little better and a little deeper at a position where they need it. And that alone makes it worth considering, even if it means Norvell and general manager John Garrett have to clear space to make it happen.
In Other News...
Florida State Leaves Camp Feeling Better But One Defensive Loss Looms
Florida State is heading out of fall camp in a better place physically than it was a few weeks ago, and Mike Norvell sounded encouraged by the way several players have worked back into the mix. Nehemiah Chandler, Quintrevion Wisner, Mikai Gbayor, Jayvan Boggs and Andr Otto have either returned to practice or moved ahead of schedule in their recoveries, giving the Seminoles a healthier look as they turn toward the season. Norvell said the overall health of the roster is in a good spot, which is exactly what a team wants to hear coming out of camp.
Still, the picture is not entirely clean. Florida State also took a hit with Karson Hobbs, whose injury leaves a noticeable hole on the defensive side, and the way the Seminoles absorb that loss will be part of the early-season story. Even with the encouraging updates elsewhere, the defensive depth chart will now have to adjust to one less option, and that is the kind of camp development that can linger long after the pads come off. [Read more 🡒]
Desirrio Riles Could Be Exactly What FSUs Offense Needs
Desirrio Riles arrived in Tallahassee with a background that already makes him stand out in Florida States offense. A former University Christian and East Carolina player, he changed positions from quarterback to tight end in college and now looks set to open the year as the Seminoles starter at that spot, bringing a skill set that can help in more than one way.
For Mike Norvell, the appeal is obvious. Riles has shown he can contribute as both a receiver and a blocker, and that kind of versatility gives Florida State another layer to work with in the middle of the field and in the run game. If he settles in quickly, he could become the kind of dependable presence the Seminoles have been looking for. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Norvell's Final Camp Read On FSU Carries One Clear Tension
With fall camp winding down, Mike Norvell is set to offer his final assessment of Florida State before the Seminoles turn their attention to the season opener. The head coach has spent August evaluating preseason practices, and his closing remarks should give a clearer sense of where the roster has made progress and where the work still needs to continue.
The timing matters because Florida State is already nearing game week, with New Mexico State coming to Doak Campbell Stadium to open the 2026 season on Aug. 29. By the time Norvell speaks, the camp grind will be over and the conversation will shift from evaluation to execution, with the Seminoles eager to see how their offseason work translates once the lights come on. [Read more 🡒]