The walls are starting to close in on coach Mike Norvell in Tallahassee after Florida State officially fired athletic director Michael Alford. A serious change at the top of leadership rarely means the rest of the pyramid will remain unaffected, and given the recent performance of the team, Norvell could be the next person out the door very soon.
Moving on from a coach and his staff is never an easy thing to do, especially given the recruiting and roster retention implications the move may have. Winning on the field is ultimately more important than winning on the recruiting trail, but Norvell and Florida State could risk losing multiple recruits before a potential departure is finalized. Multiple commitments have become flip targets, and that may just be the start for the Seminoles.
2027 4-star RB Jayden Miles - LSU, Ohio State
The newest addition to the watch is four-star running back Jayden Miles, an accomplished native of Louisiana. Miles announced his commitment to Florida State in June after traveling back to campus, and his commitment has remained solid since. However, Miles never completely shut down his recruitment like many recruits, and the running back has been in consistent contact with Ohio State.
Both Ohio State and LSU are set to host Miles for visits in the near future, and given his close connection to the Buckeyes' staff, there is a real chance that the running back does not leave the game as a Florida State commitment. Miles is currently the No. 396 overall prospect in the 2027 class, and losing his commitment would sting.
2027 4-star S/LB Jernard Albright - South Carolina
The Florida State Seminoles' staff opted to push for talent over needs in the 2027 class, which has given four-star commitment Jernard Albright a chance to move over to linebacker. Albright is a natural safety, but his physicality and frame offer plenty of versatility at the collegiate level.
Norvell got down and dirty while trying to build his 2027 class and did not shy away from potentially difficult commitment flip battles. Albright was originally a South Carolina commitment before Norvell managed to force the flip. The issue, however, is that the Gamecocks have never gone away.
Things may seem calm at the moment, but Albright is certainly someone who could make his way back to South Carolina if Florida State falls flat moving forward. Albright is considered to be the No. 187 overall prospect in the class, and the recruit is ranked as the third-highest Florida State commitment in the class.
2027 4-star ATH Za'Kari Johnson - Miami, Auburn
Johnson has been the most talked-about Florida State commitment since Mekhi Williams announced his flip to Wisconsin. Johnson is seen as a defensive back by the Seminoles' staff, and his skills could come in handy, that is, if the recruit actually lands in Tallahassee.
The talented recruit was originally a member of the 2028 class and received plenty of high-level offers before ultimately reclassifying into the 2027 class. When Johnson did so, he committed to Florida State and several backed off. However, many have returned to make a push or gauge interest as the Seminoles continue to tumble on the field.
The Miami Hurricanes have been rekindling the relationship with Johnson as of late, while Auburn and Texas A&M have also pushed for the recruit. Johnson visited the Aggies, but talk of a potential flip to Texas A&M has turned ice cold in the last week. Auburn is silently becoming one of the top programs pursuing Johnson as the Hurricanes have taken center stage.
The love that Johnson has for Miami has been one of the worst-kept secrets in recruiting, with plenty of recent comments from the recruit on the program. Johnson is not considered to be someone who will actually sign with Florida State in December, but what is holding the recruit up is a lack of space. The Hurricanes have six commitments in the secondary in the 2027 class, and frankly, adding a seventh is not a true priority.
At the moment, the 2028 class is relatively safe as plenty was already going to change before the commitments hit campus. Nothing is truly set in stone that far out, given how quickly college recruiting moves now, and the real focus should be on what can be done to salvage the 2027 class if and when mass commitment flips take place.
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