With two scrimmages in the books, Florida State has hit “move week,” and that means the staff is starting to sort out the depth chart while shifting from install work to a more detailed game-plan approach for the season and the Week 0 opener against New Mexico State on August 29.
Mike Norvell pointed to two areas where the biggest battles are still unfolding: the offensive line and the secondary.
Up front, Florida State is working through a full offseason rebuild, with all five starting spots open. Norvell said the Seminoles are starting to get a clearer picture of the first unit, but the evaluation is bigger than just naming five starters.
“Really, the emergence of the five up front on the offensive line,” Norvell said. “I think we’ve got a group that’s been pretty consistent in that.
Obviously, you’ve got to continue to push... You talk about five, but you want to be able to have eight or nine that can go into a game and obviously play at a high level.
So, just who’s really moving in that position?”
The secondary looks even less settled, especially at cornerback. Norvell said that group is still in the middle of a tight competition, with Quindarrius Jones standing out and Charles Lester III also turning heads in camp.
"Watching the defensive back group, I think it’s very competitive right now,” Norvell said. “I’ve really been pleased with Q Jones.
Obviously, we know Ja’Bril and the work that he’s been able to do... You see Nehemiah Chandler.
Charles Lester had a really nice pick tonight. A guy that we’re challenging, Ricky Knight.
Who’s going to emerge as those guys that can be counted on there at the corner position?”
Norvell also said the linebacker room is “very competitive,” with Chris Jones emerging as a force alongside Omar Graham Jr., Mikai Gbayor, Blake Nichelson, Caleb LaVallee, and Izayia Williams. That kind of depth gives Florida State room to mix and match personnel while the roles continue to settle.
In Other News...
Florida State Has A New Quarterback Battle Fans Need To Watch
Fall camp has given Florida State a fresh subplot under center, and it involves a newcomer who arrived only in May. Junior transfer Malachi Marshall has drawn attention from Mike Norvell for the way he has thrown the ball and for how quickly he has absorbed the offense, making him one of the more interesting developments as the Seminoles sort through their quarterback room.
Behind presumed starter Ashton Daniels, the backup job is still very much up for grabs, and that has put Marshall in direct competition with sophomore Kevin Sperry. With the season getting closer and the depth chart still unsettled, Florida State has a legitimate battle to monitor in the weeks ahead, one that could reshape how the Seminoles feel about their quarterback insurance policy. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Suddenly Has A Secondary Problem Tony White Must Solve
Florida States secondary took another hit with Karson Hobbs going down in camp, forcing the Seminoles to rework a part of the defense that had already been under the microscope. Hobbs was expected to help stabilize the nickel spot, and his absence leaves defensive coordinator Tony White with one less experienced option as he tries to sort out how the back end fits together.
The immediate answer appears to be Duke transfer MaKhi Jones, who is now the presumptive starter at nickel. But the larger issue is what comes behind him, because the depth chart there is suddenly thin and the staff may have to shuffle personnel to keep the defense balanced. For White, it is the kind of adjustment that can ripple through the entire secondary before the season even gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Is Giving Sebastian Janikowski A Rare Program Honor
Florida State is preparing to put one of its most recognizable special-teams stars in a class of his own. The university announced that Sebastian Janikowski will have his No. 38 jersey retired during the Seminoles 2026 season opener against New Mexico State, adding a rare layer of distinction to a player who was already an All-American and a two-time Lou Groza Award winner during his run in Tallahassee from 1997 to 1999.
Janikowski went on to a long NFL career, most notably with the Raiders, but his Florida State legacy has never really faded in the building at Doak Campbell Stadium. He will be officially honored with an in-game recognition as part of the ceremony, a fitting stage for a program that does not hand out jersey retirements often and clearly views this as one of its special nods to a former standout. [Read more 🡒]