Florida State may already have a freshman linebacker pushing his way into the conversation.
After the Seminoles held their first team scrimmage on Aug. 4, head coach Mike Norvell singled out Izayia Williams as one of the players who made an impression. Norvell told reporters he believes Williams has "an incredible future in front of him," per John Evans of Noles247, and said he noticed how much work the freshman put into studying while recovering from a torn ACL.
That kind of praise matters, especially for a Florida State linebacker group that struggled in 2025. It also matters because Williams arrived in Tallahassee after a long layoff, having not played football in more than a year when he got to campus.
Williams tore his ACL in a spring game before his senior year at Tavares High School, which slowed his path to Florida State. But once he was cleared ahead of fall camp, he wasted little time showing what he could do. Norvell said the freshman jumped out immediately during a tackle drill.
"He got me fired up in the first tackle circuit we do. I mean, his very first rep.
Speed, explosive, violent. I was jumping on him, draped all over him.
It was a pretty fun little first rep for him," Norvell said after the third practice of camp.
Florida State added Chris Jones and Mikai Gbayor through the transfer portal, and both are in position to see playing time for Tony White’s defense if they stay healthy through Week 0. Even with that competition, Williams doesn’t look like a player willing to wait quietly.
Before the injury, he had already built a strong résumé at Tavares. As a junior, he posted 125 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception on defense. He also handled work on offense, finishing with 23 carries for 423 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
That production helps explain why Florida State viewed him as a four-star recruit and why his athletic profile stands out. He has the speed to close space quickly, the range to work sideline to sideline and the ability to drop into coverage.
Williams is still coming back from a major injury, and the mental side of the game remains part of his development. But according to Norvell, that process is moving in the right direction. If the freshman keeps stacking good practices, he could work his way into a situational role and make a case for real playing time in 2026.
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FSUs First Scrimmage Put One Camp Battle Into Sharper Focus
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The quarterback competition also got a little clearer in the aftermath, with Ashton Daniels drawing favorable attention from Norvell after the workout. Florida State was also without Malachi Marshall, who sat out because of an injury, though the expectation is he will be back soon as the camp picture continues to shift around roster health and the eligibility ruling that has already affected how the staff manages the team. [Read more 🡒]
Norvell Just Opened One More Path To Change FSUs Roster
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The catch is in the fine print, because newly eligible players cannot jump into the transfer portal unless they had already done so earlier this offseason. That means Florida State can look at familiar names and see whether the fit still makes sense, but the options are not unlimited. Former quarterback Tommy Castellanos is one of the players eligible to return under the ruling, along with linebacker Elijah Herring, giving Norvell another avenue to reshape the roster if the pieces line up. [Read more 🡒]
Ousmane Kromah Is Forcing A Florida State Backfield Shakeup
Ousmane Kromah has spent the offseason and fall camp making a stronger case for touches, and Florida States staff has taken notice. Mike Norvell and the Seminoles have praised the freshmans work since his first year in the program, even as the backfield has grown more crowded with the addition of Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner alongside Kromah and Samuel Singleton Jr.
Norvell has already signaled that this seasons rotation will look different, which makes the early part of the opener especially worth watching. With so many pieces competing for snaps, Kromahs rise has created a real ripple effect in the depth chart, and Florida State may be about to learn how quickly his offseason momentum turns into game-day opportunity. [Read more 🡒]