Florida State’s preseason buzz is landing everywhere except at quarterback.
That was the clearest takeaway from Athlon Sports’ preseason All-ACC teams, which gave the Seminoles seven selections but left Ashton Daniels out entirely. For a program trying to reestablish itself in 2026, the recognition says plenty: national outlets still see real talent on this roster, just not much consensus about the most important spot on the field.
The Seminoles’ lone first-team honoree was wide receiver Duce Robinson, a nod that keeps him squarely in the conversation as one of the ACC’s top offensive threats. Florida State also placed defensive end Mandrell Desir, defensive back Ja'Bril Rawls and linebacker Chris Jones on the second team. On the fourth team, Athlon included wide receiver Micahi Danzy, running back Ousmane Kromah and defensive tackle Daniel Lyons.
Robinson, Rawls, Jones and Desir all landed higher on the list than Danzy, Lyons and Kromah, giving Florida State a spread of talent across both sides of the ball. The message from Athlon was straightforward: the Seminoles have players worth circling.
What they don’t have, at least in this preseason snapshot, is a quarterback drawing the same level of confidence.
That tracks with the broader conversation around Florida State this offseason. National outlets have been willing to praise the team’s skill-position talent and defensive playmakers, but the quarterback discussion has remained split. Daniels was placed near the bottom of ESPN’s preseason quarterback tiers, while CBS Sports and Lindy’s Sports were more optimistic about the veteran transfer.
And Daniels isn’t carrying the whole load by himself. Florida State is working with a completely new starting offensive line, bringing in multiple transfers, and trying to bounce back from consecutive disappointing seasons.
Still, quarterback is the position that shapes everything else, which is why Daniels keeps showing up in preseason evaluations. Athlon’s list only sharpened that focus: seven Seminoles got the spotlight, but the man under center did not.
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Florida State Just Got The Kind Of Respect Fans Wanted Back
Florida States offseason buzz picked up another notch with seven players landing on Athlon Sports preseason All-ACC lists, a sign the Seminoles are getting the kind of respect fans have been waiting to see again. The group is spread across both sides of the ball, with a mix of proven production and younger names that give the roster a more balanced look heading toward the 2026 season.
The recognition matters because it suggests Florida State is no longer being viewed through the lens of a single star or one good stretch. The defense has multiple players drawing notice, while the offense has enough playmaking talent to keep the Seminoles in the conversation before the season even starts, and the next question is whether that preseason belief turns into the kind of on-field consistency that actually changes the ACC picture. [Read more 🡒]
National Ranking Just Sent Florida State Fans A Message About Duce Robinson
Pro Football Focus annual Top 50 college football players list gave wide receivers plenty of attention, but Florida States Duce Robinson was not among the five at the position who made the cut. For a Seminoles offense trying to lean on proven playmakers, that kind of omission stands out, especially when Robinsons numbers from last season stacked up favorably against several of the receivers who did land on the list.
Robinson finished with 1,081 receiving yards, third in the ACC, and his yards per catch and receiving yards per game both sat near the top of the conference. He has already been tabbed a preseason All-American by Phil Steele and placed ninth among draft-eligible receivers, so the broader industry view on him is hardly lacking, even if one of the sports most visible rankings chose a different path. [Read more 🡒]