Preseason camp opens Wednesday at Florida State, and with it comes the first real chance to sort out what the 2026 offense is going to look like for Mike Norvell’s team. After two losing seasons, the pressure is obvious.
So is the uncertainty. The two-deep on offense carries a few clear answers, but plenty of jobs still feel up for grabs.
At quarterback, Ashton Daniels is the name at the top. That part is settled.
The bigger question is what happens behind him, where the backup battle could tell FSU a lot about the future. Marshall and Sperry are the two to watch, and any sign that one has created real separation would matter.
The backfield is where the projection gets more complicated. Ousmane Kromah sits at No. 1, with Samuel Singleton and Quintrevion Wisner next in line.
Wisner, the Texas transfer, had been the offseason assumption as the lead back, and he should still get plenty of work. But the confidence that he’ll be the clear feature guy is fading.
Kromah is coming off a promising freshman season and looks ready for a bigger role, though he still needs more consistency with his tracks and a better grasp of the scheme. Even so, there’s been praise for the South Georgia native after his first full offseason in Tallahassee.
Singleton is the wildcard. He’s been improving steadily, and there’s growing buzz that he could even climb past Wisner in snap count.
However it shakes out, all three are expected to play as Norvell leans more heavily on 21 personnel.
At receiver, Duce Robinson is the centerpiece at the 9. FSU plans to put him in one-on-one situations, while also moving him around more this season, including some work in the slot.
Behind him, Tae'Shaun Gelsey is a player to monitor closely. This feels like an important year for him to show growth and make the most of his chances, and the staff has reportedly liked his blocking, which could help carve out a defined role.
Micahi Danzy is projected as the top option at 2-WR after flashing major upside as a redshirt freshman. Florida State is counting on him to take another step as the complement to Robinson.
His speed made him a natural fit in Gus Malzahn’s jet-sweep looks, and the question now is whether Norvell can get that same kind of production from him. Devin Carter is listed behind Danzy, but he’s still very much in the mix to push for a starting job or at least starter-level snaps.
In the slot, Jayvan Boggs is projected to start, with Jasen Lopez behind him. Boggs had a strong spring going before an injury interrupted it, though he should be ready for the start of the season.
There’s reason for caution with offseason buzz around him after the hype he carried as a true freshman, but he was also dealing with injury for much of last season. Staying healthy is a big part of what he needs to prove now.
Lopez got to spring late because of basketball, but he quickly made himself part of the conversation as a rotational slot receiver and a possible starting punt returner. Carter could also see time there.
Up front, the offensive line is best viewed in tiers. The first tier is Chaplin, who stands alone as the only truly viable left tackle on the roster. He was slowed by an injury last offseason that affected his conditioning, and the Auburn transfer, previously at Virginia Tech, needs to get back to his 2024 level if Florida State is going to get the return it wants.
The second tier includes Otto, Welch-Joiner and Pabst, a group the staff views as sure starters even if the exact spots are still undecided. Then comes the third tier: Nwaiwu, Thompson and Bowling. One of those three will start, and Nwaiwu is the swing piece whose position will help determine how the rest of the line settles in.
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Ernie Sims Keeps FSU Linebacker Recruiting Surge Rolling
Florida States linebacker room has been one of the more active areas of the roster since Ernie Sims was promoted to linebackers coach, and the early returns on the recruiting trail have matched the staffs urgency. Sims has already helped the Seminoles land several linebacker commitments while the program continues to mix in experienced transfers and high school additions, giving the position group both immediate depth and a longer-term pipeline.
The next name on the board is Israel Samuel, a 2028 three-star linebacker out of Texas whom Florida State has offered as the search for future talent keeps rolling. Samuel already has a crowded offer sheet that includes several national powers, and the Seminoles are working to get him on campus in the near future, with a visit still to be arranged. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Adds Duke Safety As Defensive Rebuild Keeps Rolling
Florida States defensive overhaul kept moving this week with the addition of former Duke safety Makhi Jones, a portal pickup for the 2026 season who gives Mike Norvell another piece to work with on that side of the ball. Jones arrives with three years of eligibility left after a steady 2025 at Duke, where he played in every game and chipped in 35 tackles and a fumble recovery.
The fit is the part that stands out most. Jones is expected to slide into rover and nickel duties in Tony Whites defense, adding another versatile body to a portal class that has already become a major part of Florida States rebuild. He is one of 24 transfer additions overall and one of seven brought in for the defense, a sign the Seminoles are still shaping this unit with an eye toward both depth and flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Just Made Clear Who Will Set The Tone On Defense
Florida State has spent the summer looking for the kind of defensive voice that can steady a young group, and Ashlynd Barker has been at the center of that conversation. The veteran safety has drawn consistent praise from the coaching staff for his work ethic and the way he carries himself in the program, the sort of presence that matters even before the pads come on. With his final season approaching, Barker is positioned to be one of the Seminoles most important figures in the secondary.
His offseason standing got another boost with the programs Break the Rock honor, a nod to the leadership and standard-setting that coaches want from their upperclassmen. It fits the way Florida State has described Barker throughout the summer workout period, as someone who sets an example in the room and on the field. For a defense that will lean on experience wherever it can find it, Barkers role looks less like a supporting piece and more like a tone-setter. [Read more 🡒]