The season is creeping up on Florida State, and the intensity around fall camp is rising. The Seminoles had their first team scrimmage on Aug. 4, and it allowed certain players to stand out to the staff.
Freshman linebacker Izayia Williams, who continues to get some praise from head coach Mike Norvell, was one of those standouts. When speaking to the media following the scrimmage, Norvell expressed his excitement about Williams, saying he has "an incredible future in front of him," per John Evans of Noles247.
Norvell added that he sees how much Williams put into studying while he was rehabbing from a torn ACL.
For a team that struggled at linebacker in 2025, this is a nice development for the Noles and defensive coordinator Tony White.
Mike Norvell is high on Florida State freshman LB Izayia Williams going into 2026
Williams suffered a torn ACL in a spring game before his senior year at Tavares High School. That was a tough blow for him, and even when he arrived on campus in Tallahassee, he hadn't played football in over a year.
Despite that, it's obvious that he took advantage of the mental aspect of the game. He was cleared ahead of fall camp, and during a tackle drill for the Seminoles, Williams caught Norvell's attention.
"He got me fired up in the first tackle circuit we do. I mean, his very first rep. Speed, explosive, violent. I was jumping on him, draped all over him. It was a pretty fun little first rep for him," Norvell said after the third practice of camp.
So the fact that Norvell is still excited about Williams shows the caliber of player he can develop to be. Florida State decided to bring in Chris Jones and Mikai Gbayor via the transfer portal, and both guys seem poised to get playing time for this group, assuming he can make it to Week 0 healthy.
Despite that, it doesn't mean that Williams can't carve out a spot in the rotation. Especially since before going down, he was a highly productive player. During his junior year at Tavares, he finished with 125 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks, and an interception on defense. He also played on offense, recording 23 carries for 423 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
That just shows the type of athleticism he has. Williams has outstanding speed to allow him to fill a gap in a hurry. He can use that quickness to fly sideline-to-sideline and has the talent to drop back in coverage.
There's a reason he was a four-star recruit, and Florida State was thrilled to bring him onto their football team. While he is still working his way back from a major injury, he has all the physical tools teams look for. It's the mental aspect that needs to continue developing for him, but it appears he's taking strides in that department.
He clearly has a fan in Norvell, and if he continues to make plays in practice, he can find himself a role as a situational linebacker. The talent is clear as day, and it seems like he's making a strong case to get some playing time in 2026.
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