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Pivotal trip for the Seminoles to secure their future quarterback in the 2026 cycle

It's time for Florida State's coaching staff to lock in.
ByTaylor Devers|
Oct 26, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell watches from the sideline against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Oct 26, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell watches from the sideline against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

GOING ALL-IN ON O'NEAL?

Florida State football currently ranks as the 32nd-best recruiting class in the 2026 cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite. This isn't where the Seminoles will finish, but the fan base is critical of the recruiting efforts during the Mike Norvell era.

Florida State previously had a quarterback committed to the 2026 class, but four-star Brady Smigiel backed off of his pledge after Gus Malzahn was hired as the offensive coordinator and then committed to the Michigan Wolverines.

As a result, the Seminoles have had a revolving door of targets that they have offered and pursued, but their options are starting to get slim. Four-star Landon Duckworth and Bowe Bentley didn't include Florida State in their top schools list, and then five-star Keisean Henderson decided to stick with his pledge to the Houston Cougars.

As a result, that leaves the Seminoles with going all-in on four-star signal-caller Jaden O'Neal (Oklahoma commit) from Mustang, Oklahoma.

EXPANDED THOUGHTS

O'Neal is starting his official visit with the Seminoles on Sunday, June 15th. This is one that the coaching staff needs to lock down and ensure that he flips his pledge from the Sooners, so that the program has another quarterback for its future.

To be honest, I like O'Neal as a quarterback. I think he is a solid prospect, but I believe that five-star Keisean Henderson (Houston commit) would have been a perfect selection for what Gus Malzahn wanted to run with the Seminoles, since he is such an electric option.

I know that Houston will likely not be a great team in 2025, and the Cougars probably pitched him on being the starter in 2026 as a true freshman and gave him an NIL deal that he couldn't refuse, but this would have been a game-changer for the Seminoles if they got Henderson.

Nonetheless, I hope the coaching staff can get O'Neal in the fold and they can blossom him into something special in the Garnet and Gold.

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