Florida State’s injury situation is starting to take shape as the Seminoles move deeper into the 2026 season, and Mike Norvell didn’t have much mystery left after Saturday’s win over Central Arkansas.
The Seminoles are 2-2 through four games, and while that leaves plenty of season ahead, the roster has already taken some hits. Florida State was missing several pieces from the two-deep against Central Arkansas on both sides of the ball, and that included some names Norvell clearly wants back in the mix soon.
One of the most encouraging moments came with linebacker Chris Jones. He left the game with a knee injury, but he was able to return, which gave Florida State at least one positive note in the middle of an injury-filled day.
Norvell’s update also covered a group of defenders who were unavailable Saturday. Sophomore defensive end Darryll Desir and senior cornerback Quindarrius Jones both sat out, while senior linebacker Caleb LaVallee also did not play.
Desir had missed the loss to SMU before returning in limited fashion against Alabama, and it remains unclear how Jones was injured. LaVallee’s injury came in Tuscaloosa, where he had to be helped off the field.
That group matters for a defense already trying to hold things together. Jones has forced a turnover in each of Florida State’s two games, while LaVallee has put together 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass deflection.
With Blake Nichelson and Izayia Williams already sidelined, the Seminoles are thin enough that every missing linebacker feels bigger than usual. Desir, meanwhile, has logged 2 tackles in 2 appearances so far.
Norvell said the issues are different for each player, but the hope is that the group can work its way back as conference play gets rolling.
"It was each of those guys dealing with different issues. Caleb, unfortunately, went down last week and was unable to make it back," Norvell said.
"Obviously, Darryll's had a couple of missed opportunities. Q’s dealing with a few issues.
Situational issues that they're all working through."
"But all those guys are guys that we count on. Hopeful to get them back as we get into ACC play," Norvell added.
There was also a note on the receiver room. Sophomore wide receiver Tae'Shaun Gelsey has not made his season debut yet, but Norvell sounded optimistic that could change this week. Freshman pass-catcher Devin Carter is still coming back from a preseason injury, leaving Florida State short on depth at the position.
"Hopefully we'll get Tae’Shaun (Gelsey) back in action here this next week," Norvell said. "But seeing that we've been really thin in that regard, Devin Carter is still working through his process of getting back."
Florida State stays at home next, hosting Virginia on Saturday, October 3. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
In Other News...
Mike Locksley Is Suddenly In A Conversation Maryland Fans Dread
Week 4 turned up the heat across college football, and Mike Norvell found himself part of a wider conversation about coaches under pressure after another rough weekend. Florida States season has already shifted the tone around the program, and when losses pile up this early, every next game starts to carry a little more weight for a coach trying to steady things before the schedule tightens further.
Norvell is hardly the only name in that mix, with Marylands Mike Locksley, South Carolinas Shane Beamer, Colorados Deion Sanders and others all getting pulled into the same uncomfortable chatter about job security and buyout math. For Florida State, the stakes are less about the national noise and more about what comes next, because every result from here on out will be measured not just as a loss or a win, but as part of a larger answer to where this season is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Is Climbing Again As ACC Rivals Already Slip
Florida State kept moving in the right direction in Week 4, handling Central Arkansas and adding another comfortable result to a start that looks a lot sturdier than the one that had fans on edge not long ago. In the latest ACC power ranking, the Seminoles are clearly climbing back toward the top tier while the league around them keeps sorting itself out, with some rivals already taking hits that could matter later in the race.
Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Boston College all have their own issues to clean up, and Wake Forests upset of Louisville only added to the sense that the conference is still wide open in spots. Virginia Tech is also still being watched as a team with the kind of pieces that could make things interesting, but for Florida State the larger takeaway is simple enough: the path ahead looks a little cleaner when the teams around you are stumbling. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Still Has An ACC Path But One Problem Looms
Florida States season has already reached the point where every ACC week feels like a referendum on the bigger picture. After a 2-2 start and an 0-1 mark in league play, the Seminoles are still staring at a workable path through their remaining seven conference games, with the goal of putting themselves in position for the 2026 ACC Championship Game in Charlotte.
The encouraging part is that the ingredients for a turnaround are at least visible. Ousmane Kromah has to keep giving the offense traction on the ground, Ashton Daniels needs to settle into a steadier rhythm at quarterback, and the pass rush has shown signs of getting better even if the sack numbers have not fully caught up yet. The larger question is whether Florida State can turn those separate pieces into something dependable before the league schedule tightens the pressure even more. [Read more 🡒]