FSU football recruiting: Izayia Williams fulfilling his destiny

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Editor's Note: Tavares senior linebacker Izayia Williams wrote the following first-person story to explain his feelings about signing with Florida State football.

The 6-foot-1½, 215-pound Williams is the No. 3 linebacker and No. 26 overall player on the 2026 USA TODAY Florida Network Top 100. He is rated a four-star recruit, the No. 6 linebacker in the nation and the No. 79 overall recruit in the nation on the 247Sports Composite rankings.

An Under Armour All-American in 2025, Williams had 125 tackles, four sacks and interception to go alone with 423 rushing yards and 10 offensive touchdowns as a junior. He missed the 2025 season because of a knee injury.

Today, my destiny will be fulfilled.

Florida State has always been one of my favorite schools since I was younger. It was always Florida State. I grew up in a Florida State house. Everything in the house is Florida State.

My parents both got Florida State stuff tattooed on them. My dad has one that says “Nole Life.” My mom has both of the spears on both of her biceps, so when she flexes you can see them.

I grew up playing in the backyard pretending to be Dalvin Cook.

That first time that I run onto the field as a Seminole will be crazy for me. I’m going to try to do it like I’ve been there before, but I know its going to be crazy because I’ve always wanted this to happen.

My dad grew up in Madison County, so he grew up close to it. My grandad on my mom’s side was a Florida State fan. He’s very excited that I’m going to Florida State. He always wanted to go to Florida State for basketball but he never got to.

My parents were really excited when I decided on Florida State. They never told me to do it. They never told me, “Oh, go to Florida State.” But they were really happy when I did it.

This really feels like the only way the story could go for me. I always loved Florida State.

I really gravitated to Florida State throughout the recruiting process. The honesty of the coaches meant a lot to me.

The recruiting process has been kind of crazy. I really feel like where I’m from nobody did what I’m doing. Nobody can really tell you what it is. I didn’t really understand what it was. Coaches can tell you anything and you never know if it’s true or not if you weren’t around it before. Nobody told me what it was going to be like. Coaches lie to you just to make you feel good. Especially choosing schools because I like the coach. I didn’t know the coaches would leave the same year. I just never knew that.

I’d tell younger players to wait your time. Don’t be quick to jump on anything unless you know it’s right for you but you probably won’t know it’s the right time until later on. Get the right people around you and make sure you can really trust them.

Coach Norvell is a big reason why I’m going to Florida State. Even when I was going through committing and decommitting, he always told me what would happen at the end. He never gave up on me through all that stuff with my injury.

Coach Norvell came down for a basketball game, and I could hear him cheering me on from the stands, “Foul him, Zay!” I had other coaches come to my games to watch me, but when he came it was to support me.

I feel like I’ve grown up a lot. Not just through the recruiting process but also being hurt and all the other stuff.

I’m ready for the next step. The coaches have told me the plan they have for me, especially coming off the injury. They’ve always been honest with what’s going to happen with me.

I trust them with developing me as a player and as a person.

I was born to play at Florida State.

I’m ready for this.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Why Izayia Williams believes he was born to play for FSU football

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