Honestly, the Florida State football depth chart has felt more like a game of musical chairs lately than a stable roster. If you’ve been following the Noles over the last two seasons, you know it hasn’t been pretty. A combined 7-17 record across 2024 and 2025 has left fans in Tallahassee wondering if Mike Norvell can actually right the ship.
Stability is the goal for 2026. But looking at the current projected depth, it's clear we are looking at a "Frankenstein" roster—a mix of high-upside freshmen and a massive wave of transfer portal additions.
The Quarterback Room: A Three-Way Mess?
Everyone wants to know who starts under center. With Tommy Castellanos out of eligibility, the 2026 battle is wide open. It’s basically a toss-up between potential and experience.
Kevin Sperry is the name everyone is whispering about. He’s the redshirt freshman who looks like the future, but he only had 17 pass attempts in 2025. Is he ready? Maybe. But Norvell isn’t betting the farm on a kid. That’s why the staff went out and grabbed Ashton Daniels from Auburn and Dean DeNobile from Lafayette.
DeNobile is an interesting "deep cut" addition. He threw for over 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns last year. He’s gritty. He’s a two-time captain. He might not have the "SEC flash," but he doesn't turn the ball over. Then you have Jaylen King, another transfer in the mix.
Predicting the starter right now is a fool's errand, but don't be shocked if the veteran DeNobile starts the season while Sperry waits in the wings.
Skill Positions: Duce Robinson is the Alpha
If there is one spot on the Florida State football depth chart that looks genuinely scary for opponents, it’s the wide receiver room.
Duce Robinson coming back for his junior year is massive. He led the room last year and is basically a mismatch nightmare at his size. Alongside him, you’ve got Micahi Danzy and Jayvan Boggs. Boggs was a true freshman who showed flashes before getting dinged up last year.
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The running back situation is a bit more of a committee. Ousmane Kromah looked like the best back on the roster by the end of 2025, and he’ll likely be RB1. However, bringing in Tre Wisner from Texas and Gemari Sands suggests Norvell wants to rotate fresh legs constantly.
Tight End Stability
- Landen Thomas: The sophomore is the clear lead.
- Desirrio Riles: A junior transfer from East Carolina who adds much-needed blocking.
- Amaree Williams: The wild card. He’s bounced between DE and TE, but the word is he’s focusing on the offensive side now.
The Trenches: Where FSU Must Win
The offensive line was surprisingly consistent in 2025, with guys like Gunnar Hansen and Luke Petitbon starting every single game. But experience doesn't always equal dominance. To bolster the unit, FSU added Xavier Chaplin and Nate Pabst through the portal.
On the defensive side, things got scary for a minute. There were rumors that the "big three" freshmen—Kevin Wynn, Mandrell Desir, and Darryll Desir—were going to bolt for the portal. They didn't. That’s the biggest win of the offseason.
Keeping Wynn is vital. He’s a 300-pounder who stayed under the four-game redshirt limit last year to preserve eligibility. He’ll likely start next to Daniel Lyons. To add some veteran "beef," the Noles just signed Jordan Sanders from Texas State. He graded out as one of the best interior defenders in the Sun Belt, even if he did miss a few too many tackles.
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Defense and Special Teams Overhaul
The secondary is under a microscope after Patrick Surtain Sr. was let go. Quindarrius Jones is the "bounce-back" candidate here. He was supposed to be the guy in 2025 before a season-ending injury. If he’s 100%, he’s an NFL-caliber corner. He’ll be paired with Ja’Bril Rawls and Earl Little Jr., assuming they can hold off talented freshmen like Shamar Arnoux.
Ernie Sims taking over as linebackers coach is a move that fans actually love. He’s a local legend. He’s got Blake Nichelson returning, who is arguably the most athletic defender on the team. Mikai Gbayor also joined via the portal to provide some "thump" in the middle.
Special teams had a rough go, but signing Gabe Panikowski might solve the kicking woes. He was 15-for-15 at Idaho State before a redshirt year at Oklahoma State. The guy has a 55-yard leg.
2026 Key Depth Positions
Offensive Line (Projected)
LT: Gunnar Hansen / Xavier Chaplin
LG: André Otto / Richie Leonard IV
C: Luke Petitbon / Chavez Thompson
RG: Nate Pabst / Jayden Todd
RT: Jonathan Daniels / Micah Pettus
Defensive Front (Projected)
DE: Deante McCray / Rylan Kennedy
DT: Kevin Wynn / Jordan Sanders
DT: Daniel Lyons / Darrell Jackson Jr.
JACK: Grant Fielder / Jesse Harrold
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Why This Roster is Different
Most people think Norvell is just "portal hunting" again. While true, the 2026 Florida State football depth chart has more "retained" high-school talent than we've seen in years. Keeping the Desir twins and Kevin Wynn was a statement.
The pressure is on offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and defensive coordinator Tony White. They were retained despite a lot of noise from the boosters. 2026 isn't just about a depth chart; it’s about proof of concept. If this mix of veteran transfers like Ashton Daniels and young stars like Duce Robinson can’t win eight or nine games, the seats in Tallahassee are going to get very hot.
Actionable Insights for Noles Fans:
- Watch the Spring Game for QB clarity: Don't assume Sperry is the guy yet; DeNobile’s experience might give him the early edge in camp.
- Monitor the Defensive Interior: If Kevin Wynn takes the "sophomore leap," the FSU defense could jump from top-40 to top-10 in the country.
- Follow the Freshman WRs: Jayvan Boggs and Micahi Danzy are the keys to stretching the field, which was a massive weakness last season.