Florida State football is entering a pivotal 2026 season for head coach Mike Norvell. The administration decided to retain him after compiling a 7-17 record over the past two years. The elephant in the room is that now Norvell is firmly in the hot seat, according to many outside analysts.
This isn't new for Florida State, as several individuals understand that if the team isn't in the SEC or the Big Ten, they don't get the necessary attention that they deserve.
Norvell is looking to prove the doubters wrong this year, as the Seminoles have added several newcomers to the roster via the transfer portal and the high school recruiting ranks. This brings a challenging proposition of seeing if the team can build continuity with one another.
Florida State football's spring practice begins next week, and Duce Robinson should stand out
Florida State will begin its spring practices on Monday, March 9th. This is a pivotal time for the team to gel together and get acclimated to the Seminoles' way of conducting practices.
There is so much talk about the newcomers that the returning contributors take a backseat to them. This spring practice could be an elevation of play for several on the team, especially contributors such as wide receiver Duce Robinson and defensive lineman Mandrell Desir.
I eventually settled on wide receiver Duce Robinson being my early selection for the team's Most Valuable Player. The Seminoles don't have their starting quarterback named, even though it could be obvious with the addition of former Auburn Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Jesse Stone (Ashton Daniels).
Ashton Daniels, Kevin Sperry, Malachi Marshall, Dean DeNobile, and Jaden O'Neal will battle it out for the starting signal-caller. However, it shouldn't matter who is throwing the football in 2026 for the Seminoles because 6'6" pass catcher Duce Robinson should be able to come down with it. He should single-handedly change the scoreboard for the offense.
Robinson recorded 56 receptions for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns during the 2025 season (according to ESPN Stats and Information). The former USC transfer didn't come back to the Seminoles for less production. Mike Norvell will hand the play-calling duties in 2026, so fans should expect a force feed of opportunities for the Phoenix, Arizona, native.
It is fitting that the player that many on the team classify as the "leader" was predicted to be the MVP.