It’s been a slow offseason for Florida State on the recruiting trail, but things have picked up considerably this week with three commitments and potentially another on the way. 2027 kicker Vance Fones kicked things off on Tuesday, pledging to the Noles, and three-star 2028 tight end Troy Silberzahn followed quickly after.
The biggest commitment of the week, at least so far, came from Za’Kari Johnson, a four-star safety who recently reclassified to the 2027 class. Johnson’s commitment helps to wash away the memory of Mekhi Williams, once the highest-rated commit for FSU this cycle, flipping to Wisconsin early this summer. Ta’Shawn Poole can really make that a distant memory on Friday evening.
Even with Johnson in the fold, the flurry looks as though it will continue with Ta’Shawn Poole set to announce his commitment on Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET. Poole is a top-100 player in the 2027 class and would immediately usurp four-star defensive lineman Sam LeJeune as FSU’s top-ranked pledge.
Danny Kanell sets the bar for Mike Norvell to save his job
Mike Norvell wasn’t willing to say he’s coaching for his job in a pre-ACC Media Days sitdown with Ralph Russo of The Athletic, but that’s the reality as he enters his seventh season at the helm in Tallahassee. So, naturally, the question is being asked: what will it take to save his job in 2026? Florida State legend Danny Kannell, now with CBS Sports, had a clear answer.
“If they don’t get to eight wins, he’s fired,” Kannell said this week. Kanell also stated that he doesn’t think there is any pressure on Norvell because he “knows exactly what he has to do.”
FSU names Doak Campbell radio booth after the legendary Gene Deckerhoff
Gene Deckerhoff became the voice of FSU men’s basketball in 1974 and the radio voice of Seminoles football in 1979. He finally retired from that role in 2022, but he’ll be immortalized in Tallahassee, not just in the minds of FSU fans, but in Doak Campbell Stadium.
Following major renovations to the stadium, FSU has honored the legendary voice of the Noles with the Gene Deckerhoff Radio Booth. Norvell let Deckerhoff know with a heartwarming FaceTime call that will have plenty of memories flooding back for FSU fans.
The Voice will forever be recognized inside the Doak Campbell Stadium press box#NoleFamily pic.twitter.com/twNQDkNE8c
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) July 14, 2026
More: FSU men’s basketball heads back to Boutwell in Birmingham
Florida State men’s basketball is heading back to Birmingham, Alabama, for a second-straight preseason exhibition matchup with Auburn at the historic Boutwell Auditorium. It’s the third-annual Ballin in Boutwell showcase, presented by Nike and Hibbett.
"We're excited to be part of Ballin in Boutwell again this year," head coach Luke Loucks said in a press release from the university. "It's a tremendous event with a great atmosphere, and it's exactly the kind of preseason challenge we're looking for. We want to compete against the best teams possible because those games prepare us for what's ahead. Opportunities like this help us evaluate where we are, expose areas we need to improve, and get our team ready for the start of the season."
The weeklong event, which features five men’s and women’s exhibition games, celebrates basketball history in Birmingham with matchups in the intimate venue. Tickets are on sale at BallininBoutwell.com.
Add us as a preferred source on Google