​We are officially seven weeks from FSU football, and Phil Steele has ranked all 138 FBS teams, placing the Florida State Seminoles at No. 25 in his top 25. He also predicts that FSU will finish tied for ninth, suggesting that the college football magazine legend believes 2026 could be a particularly strong year for the ACC. A ninth-place tie, while respectful, is not exactly the spot Florida State fans are hoping for. Still, it would represent an improvement over last season’s disappointing 5-7 record (2-6 in ACC play). With so much riding on head coach Mike Norvell, results will need to stack up, or his tenure in Tallahassee could be shorter than fans would like. After roster and coaching changes, everyone is watching to see how the Seminoles will shape up.
The transfer portal has shifted the emphasis away from JUCO recruiting, raising the question of whether JUCO edge rusher Jalen Anderson could be the answer on the edge for FSU. Pearl River coach Seth Smith saw Anderson’s potential almost immediately. “When we met Jalen, he was 6-foot-3, around 245 pounds, and we heard he powered through 20 reps of 330 pounds,” Smith said. “I knew then, unless he got here and got soft, he was going to pick his school one day. That’s exactly what happened.” Anderson rewarded that confidence with a breakout sophomore season. In 2025, he logged 7.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss, and two takeaways, including a pick-six, earning conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Meet the team behind the team: FSU’s equipment staff keeps the ‘Noles looking sharp and fully equipped. Xavier Chaplin, the left tackle, just completed his second annual backpack drive. On the quarterback front, recruiting remains ahead of the cycle, as programs view the quarterback commit as the bell cow of the class; FSU has made serious strides with 4-star 2028 QB Chandler Dyson. Warner Robins, Georgia, native Dyson visited Florida State multiple times this summer, and the visit that stood out most was to Tallahassee. The four-star prospect has made four trips to campus, and Mike Norvell’s program is the early favorite. “They acted like they loved me,” Dyson said. “The coaches were excited for me to be there and fired up the whole time. They really showed my parents they wanted me there, and they believe I could be a starter if I went there.”
Two major FSU targets are expected to announce commitments soon. Four-star offensive lineman DaJohn Yarborough is expected to commit tomorrow, and the prevailing expectation is that he will stay out West. Top-100 safety Ta’Shawn Poole is anticipated to commit next Friday, with a very real chance he chooses FSU. Six ‘Noles will get their chance to impress NBA teams this summer in the Summer League: Welcome to Tallahassee, Kaylee Goodpaster. This is all part of a broader effort to boost visibility and recruitment for the program while keeping the 2026 season in sharp focus.