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Sources say Ashton Daniels' arm strength and ball security have both improved noticeably since he arrived, and backup Malachi Marshall has started adding weight with an eye toward the long term. At running back, Samuel Singleton Jr. is being talked about as a real dark horse alongside Ousmane Kromah, with both reportedly outperforming Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner through the spring and summer.

One source compared Duce Robinson favorably to Johnny Wilson, and true freshman Devin Carter has drawn real buzz as a potential WR3 despite the crowded receiver room. FSU is also excited about freshman tight end Xavier Tiller as a long-term piece, while senior transfers Xavier Chaplin and Nate Pabst are considered clear hits on the offensive line.

Daniel Lyons remains the most consistently praised player on the defensive line, and FSU has had Kevin Wynn and Jordan Sanders cut weight this offseason to prioritize explosiveness over raw size. At linebacker, Chris Jones is drawing strong reviews for his leadership and instincts (nagging injuries limited his spring reps), and true freshman Izayia Williams, a year removed from a torn ACL, is expected to see real playing time.

Safety Ashlynd Barker might be the defense's top overall performer outside of Lyons, and CJ Richard Jr. is being viewed as a steal out of the portal at boundary safety. The other cornerback spot opposite Ja'Bril Rawls remains unsettled between Nehemiah Chandler and Quindarrius Jones, and the staff may end up rotating both depending on matchup.

Bears coach Nathan Brown played quarterback at Central Arkansas alongside Norvell, the two were roommates one summer, and Brown called him one of his best friends in coaching. He noted Norvell has stayed involved with the UCA program, including contributing to its nutrition resources.

Central Arkansas will earn a $450,000 guarantee for the trip to Tallahassee, the first-ever meeting between the two programs, and Brown said he's been close to pulling off a Power 4 upset before but has yet to break through.

No. 3 is the 1993 national championship season, Charlie Ward's Heisman run and FSU's first-ever title, capped by an 18-16 Orange Bowl win over Nebraska. No. 2 is the 2025 women's soccer national championship, the program's fifth title and second in three seasons, making it the most decorated program in school history.

No. 1 is the Choke at Doak, FSU's rally from down 31-3 in the fourth quarter to force a 31-31 tie with Florida in 1994, a game Binkley argues represents everything that makes sports worth watching regardless of the final result.

USA Today's top-25 all-time program rankings placed FSU 18th, citing Bobby Bowden's build-up of the brand and the mutually beneficial move to the ACC, even while acknowledging the program has struggled to find consistent success since Jimbo Fisher's departure.

With the ACC moving to nine conference games for most schools in 2026, FSU is one of just five teams (along with Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech and North Carolina) still playing only eight, filling the gap with two Power 4 non-conference games instead.

New Mexico State appears set to start Furman transfer Trey Hedden, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards last season, over incumbent Adam Damante. Alabama and Florida both remain undecided, with the Crimson Tide choosing between veteran Austin Mack and five-star redshirt freshman Keelon Russell, and the Gators sorting out Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo against second-year passer Tramell Jones Jr.

Central Arkansas is the murkiest of all, rotating among six quarterbacks who have combined to throw zero passes for the program, with Baylor-Auburn transfer Walker White the presumed favorite.

Norvell's buyout drops to $45.6 million after this season, and Staples notes FSU's brass genuinely considered firing him last year before ultimately deciding the buyout math favored one more season. Staples argues the size of that buyout, not confidence in Norvell, is what actually saved his job.

FSU's roster spend currently sits near the middle of the ACC, notably below non-conference opponents Alabama and Florida and conference rivals Miami and Clemson. Staples' read: Norvell is fighting for his job without the same financial backing given to coaches at programs with similar expectations.

Ashton Daniels was officially named the starter back on April 21 after beating out Kevin Sperry in the spring. JUCO transfer Malachi Marshall arrives with real pedigree (2,750 yards, 33 touchdowns, an NJCAA national title at Iowa Western) but missed all of spring practice, giving Sperry an early edge for the backup role. Redshirt senior Dean DeNobile adds experience after 35 consecutive starts at Lafayette, while four-star freshman Jaden O'Neal will miss the season with an ACL injury.

Wisner isn't flashy, zero fumbles in 311 career carries, reliable pass protection, and 32 forced missed tackles in 2025, but Yourish's read is that his value is in his floor, not his ceiling. He lacks a standout physical trait but does everything competently, which lets Kromah develop without the offense needing him to be great immediately.

Cassell Cruickshank, the nation's No. 3 edge rusher in the 2028 class, named FSU among a group of 10 schools he plans to visit this fall, alongside Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame and others. It's early, but the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder is a name worth tracking as his recruitment develops.