Florida State’s offense is heading into preseason camp with a fresh look at just about every spot, and the Seminoles are less than a week away from getting to work in Tallahassee.
The biggest certainty sits under center. Florida State already settled on Ashton Daniels as its starting quarterback shortly after spring wrapped up, and Daniels has already shown his standing as one of the team’s leaders with his appearance at ACC Kickoff.
Behind him, the backup battle is one to watch. The race between Marshall and Sperry could shape more than just this fall, since both quarterbacks are trying to position themselves for the top job next season. Even if neither ends up starting in 2025, there’s still real value in the reps they’re about to get.
The backfield should be driven by a three-man rotation. Tre Wisner, Ousmane Kromah, and Samuel Singleton Jr. are expected to see plenty of action, and Florida State will be looking for a cleaner, more effective mix after last year’s struggles in that room. The approach is simple: lean on the trio and let the depth sort itself out.
At receiver, the headliner is obvious. Duce Robinson is the star of the offense and one of the best wide receivers in the country. Around him, the Seminoles like what they have in Gelsey and Mallory, though both still need to put everything together.
Another name to keep in mind is Danzy, who broke out for Florida State last fall and should take another step now that he’s fully focused on wide receiver in his second season. Carter could open the year in the slot, but his versatility gives Florida State options across the board.
Lopez also made a strong impression in the spring after missing part of the offseason because of his basketball duties, drawing rave reviews alongside Carter. With Boggs’ injury issues, Lopez could wind up being the second straight true freshman to start Florida State’s season-opener.
Tight end remains one of the more unsettled spots on the offense. The loss of Randy Pittman Jr., who brought a little bit of everything, left a real hole.
Riles looks like the favorite to start early in the year because he simply brings more experience than Thomas and Loftin. Thomas has the higher ceiling but has dealt with injuries, while Loftin should see his role grow as the season goes on and could become a factor as a pass-catcher.
Up front, Florida State has more flexibility than it does at a lot of other positions. The Seminoles feel good about at least seven offensive linemen - Chaplin, Otto, Welch-Joiner, Thompson, Pabst, Bowling, and Nwaiwu.
One of the spring’s biggest questions was whether Nwaiwu could hold up well enough at right tackle to allow Pabst to move inside, and that seems to have been answered in the affirmative after praise from Mike Norvell and Herb Hand. The starting group looks mostly set, though Thompson could still win the center job, and Bowling could do enough to push Pabst back outside.
As the season moves along, Florida State expects that continuity and chemistry to help the unit take shape. That growth may not show up instantly, but the Seminoles believe the offense should keep improving as 2026 progresses.
Florida State’s schedule begins Saturday, August 29 vs. New Mexico State in Tallahassee at 7:00 p.m.
ET on The CW. Other key dates include Monday, September 7 vs.
SMU in Tallahassee at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN; Saturday, September 19 at Alabama in Tuscaloosa at 3:30 p.m.
ET on ABC; Saturday, September 26 vs. Central Arkansas in Tallahassee; Saturday, October 3 vs.
Virginia in Tallahassee; Friday, October 9 at Louisville at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN; Saturday, October 17 at Miami; Saturday, October 31 vs.
Clemson in Tallahassee; Saturday, November 7 at Boston College; Saturday, November 13 at Pitt at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN; Saturday, November 21 vs.
NC State in Tallahassee; and Friday, November 27 vs. Florida in Tallahassee at 3:30 p.m.
ET on ABC.
In Other News...
FSU Just Lost A Young Defender Right Before Fall Camp
Florida State is heading into fall camp with a little less depth on the defensive line after removing true freshman end Chris Carbin from the roster. Carbin had signed in December and was around for offseason work, so the move trims a player the Seminoles had already begun to integrate before camp gets rolling.
The timing makes it notable, especially with preseason preparations about to ramp up and seven other true freshman defensive linemen still in place. Even with that group still on hand, any early roster change on the defensive front is the kind of detail that can reshape how a staff sorts out its depth and development plans once camp opens. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Opens A New Camp Chapter As Leadership Starts Taking Shape
Florida State has wrapped up summer workouts and is turning the page toward camp, with the season opener against New Mexico State now the next checkpoint on the calendar. The Seminoles also kept one of their more familiar offseason traditions alive, as the teams rock-breaking ceremony again marked the transition from summer conditioning to football season, a small but meaningful signal that the long buildup is giving way to the real work.
The leadership picture is starting to come into focus, too, with players earning notice from coaches and teammates during the offseason. Chris Jones has been among the names drawing positive attention, while Duce Robinson has emerged as a presence in the locker room alongside quarterback Ashton Daniels, giving Florida State a clearer sense of who will help set the tone once camp opens and the competition gets sharper. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Heads Into Camp With Another Special Teams Problem Looming
Florida State heads into camp with a special teams overhaul still taking shape, and the changes start with the sideline. Adam Scheier is in as the new special teams coordinator after John Papuchis moved on, giving the Seminoles a fresh voice in a phase that has already seen plenty of turnover. They are also preparing to break in a new starting kicker and punter for the third straight season, a reminder that the unit has not settled into much of a rhythm.
The kicking job has drawn a competition between Panikowski and McAneney, while the punter battle includes Hughes, Jula and Post, with no one fully separating yet. There is some upside in the return game thanks to Singleton Jr. and Danzy on kickoffs, and Florida State is also leaning on youth at punt returner. For a team trying to clean up one of its most persistent problem areas, camp will be about finding stability before the season starts asking questions. [Read more 🡒]