FSU just filled arguably its biggest glaring weakness on defense.
The Seminoles have had to use the transfer portal to fill a lot of needs on both sides of the ball and few needs were bigger than linebacker, where FSU lacks depth, talent and experience. They were able to check off some of those boxes with a commitment from Mikai Gbayor, who played for North Carolina this past season and started his college career at Nebraska, playing for defensive coordinator Tony White.
BREAKING: North Carolina transfer LB Mikai Gbayor has Committed to Florida State, he tells @On3
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 15, 2026
He’s totaled 112 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF, and 3 PD through 3 seasonshttps://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/jAbqKTsnmd
FSU will be the fourth school for Gbayor, but unlike many well-traveled players in the portal, this graduate transfer has been productive at each of his stops. In two years with Nebraska (2023-2024), Gbayor had 73 tackles, nine tackles for loss and a 1.5 sacks. He transferred to Missouri for the spring semester, but left the Tigers to play for the Tar Heels in 2025. Gbayor had 39 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Now Gbayor is reunited with White and can probably act as one of the quarterbacks on the defense with his knowledge of the 3-3-5 scheme and his overall productivity. FSU's linebacking corps is undergoing some changes and needs a major boost in athleticism. Players like Omar Graham have withdrawn from the portal and are nice experienced pieces to have on the roster, but really don't fit the scheme and can't cover at all. The hope is that Gbayor can jump right in and top incoming recruit, Izayia Willliams, can contribute early and give the Seminoles some real flexibility at the position.
When will the transfer portal close?
Today marked the end of a three-day dead period and tomorrow (January 16) is the deadline for players to enter the portal, and it certainly bears watching FSU in these final hours to see if anyone else decides to jump into the portal.
Visits and signings from the portal will continue through the weekend, but most teams are close to finishing their transactions with the transfer season and are putting the final touches on completing their roster builds.