Florida State football has had bad luck over the majority of the past eight years. It has not been a fun time for the fan base. However, the program wants to create a positive buzz and get it in the right direction. The problem is that many individuals are hesitant about the ability of head coach Mike Norvell.
Norvell was brought back by the administration for the 2026 season. This didn't sit well with the fan base because there were losses, such as Stanford, that were inexcusable.
With that said, Coach Norvell did have success in 2022 and 2023 with 23 combined wins. However, the program has seven wins in the past two seasons to give individuals a sense of discomfort.
Mike Norvell saw linebacker Justin Cryer transfer out of the program this past offseason
The transfer portal has not been kind to many programs, but it is a reality of the sport of college football nowadays. No one is guaranteed to be on a roster from year-to-year.
The Seminoles have seen some players with potential leave the program. One notable piece was linebacker Justin Cryer, who transferred to Texas. Cryer was someone they grabbed from Northwestern after the Wildcats signed him in the 2023 cycle. He never made it to his first game with Northwestern before transferring to Florida State.
The Royal, Texas native was thought to be someone who could make a difference in the linebacker room that needed improvement. However, the three-star prospect didn't make much of a meaningful difference and ended up transferring to the Texas Longhorns.
The Longhorns have several linebackers who are talented on the roster, so it was fascinating to see him leave Tallahassee for Texas. Maybe it was a plan to get closer to his hometown, but head coach Steve Starkisian has always started to rave about Cryer during spring practices.
Sarkisian says his LB room is ‘very athletic’.
— Evan Vieth (@EvanVieth) April 7, 2026
Noted that Rasheem Biles is a real playmaker, and Justin Cryer is a tough inside linebacker.
Ty’Anthony Smith is just starting to come back to full strength
Rasheem Biles was one of the Seminoles' top wants in the portal, but he ultimately chose Texas. Justin Cryer could have been a solid piece in the linebacker room for 2026, but we at ChopChat hope that he performs well and beats those pesky Florida Gators when Texas plays them on October 17th.