Noles News: Seven weeks until the return of FSU Football
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Football:
We are officially seven weeks from FSU football and Phil Steele ranked all 138 FBS teams and rounding out his top 25 coming in at No.25 is the Florida State Seminoles. He also thinks that FSU will finish tied for ninth so maybe the college football magazine legend just thinks 2026 will be a really strong year for the ACC.
Tied for ninth is likely not the position Florida State fans want to be in. However, this would be an improvement from last season after an incredibly disappointing 5-7 season (2-6 in ACC play).
A lot is on the line for head coach Mike Norvell. Results need to stack up, or he will not be in Tallahassee much longer. After some roster and coaching changes, everyone waits to see how the Seminoles will pan out.
The reality of the transfer portal has significantly reduced the important of JUCO recruiting; could JUCO edge rusher Jalen Anderson be FSU’s answer on the edge?
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 recorded 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 good and equipped:
FSU Left tackle Xavier Chaplin just completed his second annual backpack drive:
Recruiting:
Quarterback recruiting is always ahead of the cyle as a lot of programs view the QB commit as the bell cow of the class; FSU has made serious strides with 4-star 2028 QB Chandler Dyson.
Warner Robins (Ga.) quarterback Chandler Dyson took multiple visits this summer, and the one that stood out the most was to Florida State.
The four-star has visited Tallahassee four times and Mike Norvell‘s program is the early favorite.
“They acted like they loved me,” Chandler 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 OL DaJohn Yarborough is expected to commit tomorrow and most expectations are that he stays out west.
Top-100 safety Ta’Shawn Poole is expected to commit next Friday and there’s still a very good chance he chooses FSU.
All Sports:
Six ‘Noles will get their chance to impress NBA teams this summer in Summer League:
Welcome to Tallahassee Kaylee Goodpaster:
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