FSU football's Mike Norvell recaps signing day, staff changes
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Florida State football head coach Mike Norvell is set to address the media to discuss the Seminoles’ signing day class and potentially staff changes within the program.
The Seminoles signed 32 players on Wednesday to land the 14th-ranked 2026 recruiting class, led by 4-star defensive back Chauncey Kennon and 4-star linebacker Izayia Williams.
On Friday morning, the program reportedly made several staff changes, including moving on from defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain. He spent three seasons with the program.
Norvell is set to address the media at noon, and the Tallahassee Democrat will provide live updates from the press conference.
Mike Norvell live press conference updates
“Those four guys are the right ones,” Norvell on local signings
Of the 32 recruits, four who signed with the program are local products with the Gadsden County pair of Daylen Green and Jakobe Green, Blountstown running back Amari Thomas, and Thomas County Central defensive lineman Cam Brooks.
Norvell said that sometimes local products can be the “hardest” to recruit since “they know everything about you, and you know everything about them.”
He said that the four players who signed with the program are the “right ones.”
“Everything plays a role” Norvell discusses recruiting changes, class expectations
Norvell said that the first few classes he had at FSU were difficult to evaluate with COVID restrictions, but he feels that the Seminoles’ classes in recent seasons, especially the 2025 class, which featured the Desir twins, Kevin Wynn and other freshman contributors.
He said that he feels like they “hit” on everything and said developing the long-term relationships with his recruits, and investing time into them, has been a major help in recruitment. He said that “everything plays a role” in recruiting success.
Norvell expects Tony White, Gus Malzahn to stay as coordinators, no comment on other staff changes
Both Tony White and Gus Malzahn are expected to return to the program as coordinators, according to Norvell.
He made no other comment on staff changes outside of Surtain.
There are reports that running back coach David Johnson has taken a job with Arkansas, but Norvell offered no comment.
“No doubt” about Chuck Kennon and Iyzia Williams being instant contributors
Norvell said that there is an expectation that 4-star defensive back Chuck Kennon and 4-star linebacker Iyzia Williams will be instant contributors, and he has “no doubt” about their ability to do that.
Both Kennon and Williams are top-100 players, and Norvell highlighted their athletic ability as what makes them stand out.
He mentioned 4-star wide receivers Devin Carter and Jasen Lopez as two other players who could be instant impact players.
Norvell to evaluate the quarterback position
Norvell said that Castellanos’s situation is independent of what FSU is going to do with its quarterback position, and whether it goes into the portal for another or puts the ball in the hands of one of the quarterbacks on the roster.
He said that he will evaluate the position and what is best for the program moving forward, with uncertainty around Castellanos’s future.
Norvell provides an update on Tommy Castellanos
Tommy Castellanos’s waiver was denied, Norvell confirmed, and he said that Castellanos is exploring his options around a final year of eligibility.
Norvell said the program supports Castellanos and his desire to get another year of eligibility.
Castellanos’s lawyer, Darren Heitner, said in a social media post Friday morning that he will be appealing the waiver denial.
Norvell confirms that Patrick Surtain is no longer on the staff
Norvell confirmed that Surtain is no longer on the staff, and he thanked him for his service to the program over the last three seasons.
He said that Surtain did a “really good job” and he wishes him the best moving forward.
“Grateful for Pat and the contributions over the last three years.”
Norvell touts “gamechangers” joining the program in the 2026 recruiting class, talks exit meetings
Mike Norvell began his press conference discussing his excitement for the 2026 recruiting class.
He said the last two classes have provided production, and he expects the same out of this roster. Norvell said he met with players and position coaches this morning, and those meetings will continue into next week.
“I think Wednesday was a great step in the right direction.”
FSU football 2026 recruiting class
- Chauncey Kennon, defensive back, Booker (Sarasota, Florida), 4-star
- Izayia Williams, linebacker, Tavares (Tavares, Florida), 4-star
- Earnest Rankins, defensive lineman, Southwest DeKalb (Decatur, Georgia), 4-star
- Jasen Lopez, wide receiver, Chaminade Madonna (Hollywood, Florida), 4-star
- Xavier Tiller, tight end, Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Georgia), 4-star
- Devin Carter, wide receiver, Douglas County (Douglas County, Georgia), 4-star
- Efrem White, wide receiver, Vero Beach (Vero Beach, Florida), 4-star
- Jaemin Pinckney, defensive lineman, Woodland (Dorchester, South Carolina), 4-star
- Franklin Whitley, EDGE, Greenville High (Greenville, South Carolina) 4-star
- Brandon Bennett, wide receiver, American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) 3-star
- Jaden O’Neal, quarterback, Mustang (Mustang, Oklahoma) 3-star
- Jonah Winston, wide receiver, Hoover (Hoover, Alabama) 3-star
- Daylen Green, linebacker, Gadsden County (Quincy, Florida) 3-star
- Cam Brooks, defensive lineman, Thomas County Central (Thomasville, Georgia), 3-star
- Steven Moore, offensive lineman, Garden City Community College (Garden City, Kansas), 3-star
- Steven Pickard, offensive lineman, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida), 3-star
- Jordan Crutchfield, defensive back, Vero Beach (Vero Beach, Florida), 3-star
- Judah Daniles, defensive lineman, Fort Myers (Fort Myers, Florida), 3-star
- Corybn Fordham, tight end, Bolles (Jacksonville, Florida), 3-star
- Damaad Lewis, defensive lineman, Myers Park (Charlotte, North Carolina) 3-star
- Jakobe Green, offensive line, Gadsden County (Quincy, Florida), 3-star
- Noah LaVallee, linebacker, Walton (Marietta, Georgia), 3-star
- Darryl Bell III, safety, Barbara Goleman (Hialeah, Florida), 3-star
- Chris Carbin, EDGE, Hillgrove (Powder Springs, Georgia), 3-star
- Jalen Anderson, defensive lineman, Pearl River Community College (Poplarville, Mississippi), 3-star
- Amari Thomas, running back, Blountstown (Blountstown, Florida) 3-star
- Darryon Williams, wide receiver, Plant (Tampa, Florida), 3-star
- Karon Maycock, linebacker, Miami Central (Miami, Florida), 3-star
- Nikau Hepi, offensive lineman, NFL Academy (Auckland, New Zealand), 3-star
- Michael Ionata, offensive line, Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Florida), 3-star
- Wihtlley Cadeau, defensive line, Booker T. Washington (Atlanta, Georgia), 3-star
- Luke Francis, offensive line, Coral Gables (Coral Gables, Florida), 3-star
FSU schedule 2025
Here is Florida State‘s schedule and results. All times Eastern.
- Aug. 30: vs Alabama | W 31-17
- Sept. 6: vs East Texas A&M | W 77-3
- Sept. 13: Bye
- Sept. 20: vs Kent State | W 66-10
- Sept. 26: at Virginia* | L 46-38 (2OT)
- Oct. 4: vs Miami* | L 28-22
- Oct. 11: vs Pittsburgh* | L 34-31
- Oct. 18: at Stanford* | L 20-13
- Oct. 25: Bye
- Nov. 1: vs Wake Forest* | W 42-7
- Nov. 8: at Clemson* | L 24-10
- Nov. 15: vs Virginia Tech* | W 34-14
- Nov. 21: at NC State* | L 21-11
- Nov. 29: at Florida | L 40-21
- Record: 5-7 (2-6 in ACC)
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football head coach Mike Norvell discusses signing day
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