Florida State’s second scrimmage of fall camp gave Mike Norvell a clearer look at where things stand, and his takeaway was simple: the defense set the tone.
With kickoff now 17 days away, the Seminoles are deep into the back half of camp and inching closer to sorting out the roster and depth chart. Norvell still has film to study from the final scrimmage of fall camp, but Sunday night already offered plenty of clues about who made noise.
The offense had its moments in a nearly 100-play workout, including several explosive plays and a pair of touchdown drives from Ashton Daniels. Even so, Norvell said the defense “definitely won the day.”
That edge showed up in the trenches. Florida State’s defense produced tackles for loss, pressure, and enough disruption to keep the offense from settling in.
Norvell pointed directly to the line, saying, “I thought the defensive line was really impactful. I know I saw the Desir twins multiple times making an impact.
Jalen Anderson had a great speed sack," Norvell said during his post-scrimmage interview. "A couple of guys coming off the edge, you just felt that disruption...
I thought those guys definitely answered the call.”
Mandrell and Darryll Desir are back after becoming important pieces up front a season ago, while Anderson arrived at Florida State as one of the country’s highest-rated junior college edge rushers. Norvell also singled out linebacker Omar Graham Jr., saying he is playing “really, really good ball,” and he praised Chris Jones, who transferred in from Southern Miss and has continued to stand out.
“Everybody’s talked about Chris Jones,” Norvell continued. “He’s definitely been a force, and he’s a guy that you really like to see.”
Charles Lester III added an interception to the defensive effort.
Florida State’s offense still found some room to work, and Norvell highlighted the backs as part of that. Sam Singleton Jr. and Ousmane Kromah drew mention, though the staff was careful with both players and limited contact to protect their legs.
“Sam had a big run,” Norvell said. “Ooze has been great throughout the course of camp," Norvell continued.
"I thought those guys ran hard. We had those top two guys in different-colored jerseys, just being smart with their legs.
They’re hard guys to tackle.”
Norvell also said Duce Robinson “did some good things,” while Tae’Shaun Gelsey has been steady all camp. Freshman Jasen Lopez, who has come up repeatedly during camp, is still pushing for what Norvell called “significant opportunities.”
The next phase is “move week,” when Florida State starts locking in its depth chart and personnel groupings before shifting attention to New Mexico State. From here on out, every player has to show that what he’s done in camp can hold up in more situational work.
In Other News...
FSU Has A Freak Athlete Fans May Soon See Very Differently
Florida State has spent a good chunk of camp trying to sort out what its offense will look like as Ashton Daniels keeps settling in at quarterback, and Mike Norvell said after the second scrimmage that the progress is there even if the whole operation still needs more consistency. Around him, the program has had a little bit of everything lately, from Eric Luallen being named the new public address voice for FSU football to recruiting activity that included 2028 defensive lineman Prince Che visiting Tallahassee, all while the soccer team gets ready to open against Stetson.
One of the more intriguing subplots, though, is Micahi Danzy, whose development keeps turning heads for reasons that go well beyond the football field. He has added notable physical growth and paired it with a standout track resume, including an ACC and Florida State record in the 400-meter run, and his athletic profile is drawing real national attention as a player who may soon be viewed in a much different way by Seminoles fans. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Landed Two Huge Chances In A Key Recruiting Battle
Florida State has picked up a pair of important chances in the race for one of the nations most coveted young defenders. Prince Che, a highly regarded defensive lineman out of Thomasville, Georgia, is set to hit campus twice this fall, giving the Seminoles multiple opportunities to make their case to a recruit who already has 38 offers and plenty of attention from major programs.
For Florida State, the calendar matters almost as much as the player. The staff sees those visits as key moments in its push for the 2028 class, and Ches return trip later in the fall should only add to the intrigue surrounding a recruitment that is still very much taking shape. With so many programs in the mix, every visit counts, and the Seminoles have lined up two of the most meaningful ones they could ask for. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Faces A Hidden Offensive Question After Tommy Castellanos
Tommy Castellanos gave Florida State a steadier edge on passing downs than the overall record suggested, and that mattered in a 5-7 season that still had pockets of offensive competence. The Seminoles were fifth nationally in passing success rate on those snaps, a useful sign that when the playbook narrowed and the pressure rose, the passing game could still function well enough to keep drives alive.
Now the job shifts to Ashton Daniels, the Auburn transfer expected to take over, and the question is less about raw talent than fit. Daniels brings a different profile as both a passer and a runner, which makes Florida States late-down offense a moving target heading into the next chapter, especially if the Seminoles are trying to preserve the kind of efficiency they found before. [Read more 🡒]