Florida State is down to game week, but a few of the biggest roster calls still hang in the balance before the Seminoles kick off the season on August 29.
Mike Norvell and his staff spent fall camp sorting through a roster that looks very different from last year’s rebuild, and the competition has reached the point where a handful of positions still need clarity. Three of those decisions stand out: the offensive line, the running back pecking order, and the cornerback spot opposite the top option.
The offensive line may have the most moving parts. FSU has experience in the group, but finding the right five remains the real puzzle.
Xavier Chaplin arrives with 37 consecutive starts at left tackle, while Bradyn Welch-Joiner started all 12 games at center for Purdue last season. Around them, Nate Pabst, Chimdia Nwaiwu, Paul Bowling, and returning lineman Andre Otto have all pushed for roles this offseason.
Herb Hand has made versatility a priority throughout camp, and he recently said publicly that the lineup was not set in stone. That flexibility matters because Pabst can work at guard or tackle, and Bowling has taken reps at center and left guard. Florida State will probably keep rotating more linemen against New Mexico State, but the staff still has to settle on five players it can trust when the schedule gets tougher.
The backfield is just as unsettled. FSU may not lean on a traditional three-down starter, even though Ousmane Kromah is back after rushing for 408 yards as a true freshman and Samuel Singleton Jr. averaged 7.1 yards per carry while scoring four touchdowns last season. Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner brings the most proven production in the room, but his missed time during fall camp opened more reps for Kromah and Singleton before he worked his way back into the mix.
That puts Kam Martin in a tough spot. Each back offers something different, and the Seminoles still have to sort out who starts, who handles passing situations, and who gets the call when they need a hard-earned yard. Norvell’s return to offensive play-calling only adds another wrinkle, and the opener should give the first real hint of how he plans to divide the touches.
On the back end, Florida State does have one clear name at corner. Rawls is the established starter after posting 40 tackles, two tackles for loss, and an interception last year before an injury derailed his 2025 season. Beyond him, though, the job is wide open enough to make camp feel like a true fight.
The strongest challenge comes from senior Quindarrius Jones and South Alabama transfer Nehemiah Chandler. Chandler brings the more complete production resume, with 13 pass breakups and two interceptions across 10 starts last season. Charles Lester III has also forced multiple turnovers in camp and should stay in the rotation, but Jones and Chandler look like the main contenders.
That spot matters because White’s pressure packages can leave cornerbacks on an island. Florida State needs more than Rawls to survive there, and that battle may end up being one of the more important decisions the staff makes before Week 0.
In Other News...
Mike Norvell Just Gave Florida State Fans Another Reason To Groan
Florida State fans got another reminder this week that Mike Norvell is willing to break from convention. Even with Ashton Daniels already named the starting quarterback, Norvell has decided the Seminoles will not release depth charts during game weeks for the 2026 season, starting with the Week 0 matchup against New Mexico State. It is the kind of move that immediately stands out in college football, where teams usually give at least a snapshot of who is likely to line up where.
For a fan base already eager for clarity, the choice only adds to the noise around a program trying to steady itself and build trust heading into a new season. Depth charts do not decide games, but they do help set expectations, and Florida State will now be keeping that information in-house when opponents and supporters are looking for every clue they can get. The decision has already drawn criticism from fans and media, and it leaves one more question hanging over a team that could have used a quieter offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Norvells Quarterback Problem At FSU Just Got Harder To Ignore
Mike Norvells quarterback track record at Florida State has become one of the clearest pressure points of his tenure. The Seminoles have repeatedly chased answers at the most important position, but the results have not matched the recruiting buzz, and the program has leaned on transfer quarterbacks to open multiple seasons in a row.
Luke Kromenhoeks path only sharpens the concern. Once the highest-ranked quarterback recruit Norvell signed in Tallahassee, he transferred twice and then lost a starting competition at South Florida, a reminder that the Seminoles still have not found a true homegrown fix. Since 2020, Norvell has brought in several blue-chip passers, yet the overall production, starts and staying power have remained limited, leaving the position group a lingering issue the staff cannot keep skirting. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Lands A Proven Outfielder With One Huge Roster Catch
Florida State has added a veteran piece to its future outfield plans, with former Pitt and UCF standout AJ Nessler committing to the Seminoles for the 2027 roster. Nessler brings a long college track record to Tallahassee, having played in more than 150 games already, and his Pitt season showed why he remains an attractive transfer target. He started 56 games there and posted a .310 average with a .410 on-base percentage while swiping 13 bases in 14 tries.
The fit is obvious on paper: a proven bat, speed on the bases and experience against college pitching. The catch is the same one that hangs over the entire move, since Nessler is reportedly eligible for an extra season because of a court ruling in California, leaving the exact shape of his future timeline still to be sorted out. For Florida State, though, the commitment at least adds a player with real production and plenty of game reps to a roster that can use both. [Read more 🡒]