For a team with as much changeover as Florida State has from year to year, there will always be spots to identify as critical. Three players in particular will make or break the 2026 football season. They are Nehemiah Chandler, Landen Thomas, and Mikai Gbayor.
The thoughts about the two defenders stand out in particular, with Tony White’s 4-2-5 defense, which led to mixed results last season. The 4-2-5 is reliant on speed, and with only two linebackers, the losses the Noles suffered at this position could make them vulnerable to the run.
With Miami, Florida, a revenge-seeking Alabama, Clemson, and Pitt on the schedule, the defense needs to be near full throttle coming out of the gate. Last year served as the installation of the system; now we see what lessons have been learned. Seasons are rarely, if ever, defined by offseason narratives, and growth and development are necessary to exceed expectations.
Let's see if the portal pays of this round.
Nehemiah Chandler
Last season, Earl Little Jr. and Ja’Bril Rawls were my standouts in the secondary. Now, Little is off to Columbus, but the Noles received great news when Ashlynd Barker decided to come back. Chandler brings elite coverage skills and finished the season as a First-Team Sun Belt selection at South Alabama.
He finished second in the nation with 13 pass breakups while only playing 11 games. With his 6’2”, 185-pound frame, he fits perfectly into the defense with not only his speed but also his physicality. He can be a plug-and-play in run support, and by the end of the season, I believe he will assume CB1 assignments.
Landen Thomas
As the quarterback battle takes center stage, depending on who emerges, the tight end position could be a fail-safe option for them. While Ashton Daniels has experience, what if one of the other two options takes control? A tight end can be a young quarterback’s best friend at times throughout a season.
Randy Pittman Jr. followed Gus Malzahn over from UCF and showed flashes of potential that left Seminole Nation wanting more. Now he resides in Dallas and is an SMU Mustang. His absence leaves big shoes to fill, and Landen Thomas is the presumptive choice as his replacement. Thomas tested the transfer portal waters before returning to Mike Norvell and the Seminoles.
He started seven games as a freshman, but he was a non-factor last season. He finished the 2025 season with three catches for 35 yards (according to ESPN Stats and Information). To be fair, he can boast that 66% of his catches resulted in touchdowns.
He is noted as having strong hands and high route-running skills. Last season, the offense was too dependent on wide receiver Duce Robinson making circus catches. A tight end that can catch the defense sleeping could be crucial in adding new foundations to the offense now that Malzhan is gone, and Norvell is taking over play-calling duties.
Mikai Gbayor
Florida State went out and got some nice weaponry for Ernie Sims to deploy as the linebackers coach. Mikai Gbayor brings a veteran presence over from North Carolina. Notably, he played a year under the great Bill Belichick, so hopefully some of the technique and coaching carry over.
More importantly, he started his college career at Nebraska under the tutelage of Florida State defensive coordinator Tony White. He is familiar with the concepts and jargon that come with playing within White’s system. Florida State’s pass rush was underwhelming last year, and that may be generous, to be honest.
It did improve as the season went on, but as mentioned, the 4-2-5 can be susceptible to the power run. If you can count on anything from veterans, it should be stability, especially from someone who knows Tony White. Gbayor and Chris Jones (transfer from Southern Miss) should bring improved play at linebacker, which is half the battle on the road to improvement.
To say that 2026 is crucial for Florida State would be a gross understatement. How these three players fit in will go a long way in determining how the season plays out. The last two seasons have been a downward spiral, and improvements were made in 2025. After beating Alabama and picking on a few undermanned teams, fans thought the sky was the limit. There is reason for optimism in 2026, but games are played on the field, and not through analysis.
For more College Football Analysis, Michael can be found on the Sports Reports as Ordered Podcast on YouTube, X, TikTok, and all DSPs.