Florida State loses GM Darrick Yray to the Big Ten but it's a blessing in disguise

The movement around FSU has been non-stop over the past week. There have been several transfers and some coaching departures. But the biggest changes may still be ahead.

When the announcement was made to retain Mike Norvell for the 2026 season, it was with the promise that changes in the infrastructure of the program and now the first domino in the front office has fallen, with GM of Personnel Darrick Yray leaving Tallahassee to take a similar role at UCLA.

Yray has been with FSU since 2022, coming to Tallahassee from Oregon State. He and Norvell built a large portion of the roster that helped the Seminoles go 23-4 over a two-season span in 2022 and 2023. FSU had a 19-game win streak and won an ACC championship in 2023. The Seminoles, however, were denied an opportunity to participate in the CFP when the committee instead chose a 12-1 Alabama team. FSU went on to the Orange Bowl with a roster gutted by players opting out and llost to Georgia, 63-3. 

Yray's run at FSU ends after failure to adjust 

Norvell has rightfully taken most of the heat for FSU's 7-17 run over the past two seasons, but Yray has also been a target for fan displeasure for his role in the roster construction. Both men have been criticized for a lack of focus on high school recruiting and a failure to develop the blue-chip players on the roster. This was compounded by a heavy reliance on the transfer portal as the market has adjusted itself and left FSU taking risks on players that were once highly recruited but had failed to produce at their first stops. 

One of Yray's biggest busts would be pushing FSU to sign quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei for a large NIL sum (reportedly $800K-$1M) in 2024 despite a limited market for the former 5-star prospect. Uiagalelei struggled in his only season at FSU and the Seminoles went 2-10.

Norvell's grip on FSU football is weakening

Yray's departure means FSU will be on the search for a new GM and the structure of power for that position is likely to change. Yray mostly worked under Norvell's thumb. He grew to have a major voice in the construction of rosters and allocation of resources, but Norvell put the rubber stamp on what FSU has been over the past two seasons.

The new GM could work side-by-side with Norvell, but more than likely they will oversee the program from a big picture standpoint and work with FSU AD Michael Alford on how the resources are utilized. Norvell will obviously maintain a substantial role -- he IS the head coach after all, but his moves will no longer go unchecked.

It's another step in the new direction of FSU football, one that will rely on far less input from Norvell.