Mike Norvell is on the hot seat heading into 2026, and that might be underselling it. For some, even saying he’s on the hottest seat in college football after posting a 7-17 record at Florida State over the last two years isn’t definitive enough. To many, this is simply a lame duck year as the powers that be in Tallahassee wait for his exorbitant buyout to reach a slightly more reasonable range.Â
But what would it take to save his job? Not just to stave off the inevitable for one more year, but to truly save his job and get the Seminoles heading back in the right direction.Â
It’s certainly a winning record and a trip to a bowl game. Even against the toughest schedule in the ACC, it’s probably something more than that. Yet, even the most optimistic Noles fan would have a tough time seeing eight wins on a schedule that, along with eight conference opponents, features Alabama and Florida in the non-conference matchups.
Let’s say 8-4 gets it done, though. That would take this roster, or at least a few key pieces of it, significantly outperforming expectations. When you’re not spending top dollar, which we all know Florida State isn’t, you need to get some serious bang for your buck, and that’s what Norvell & Co. are hoping for from these three players.Â
Some would argue that the breakout has already occurred for Darryll’s twin brother, Mandrell Desir, though it’s fair to quibble with his lack of run defense, particularly considering the structure of Tony White’s 3-3-5 defense. Still, with 6.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss, Mandrell has come closer to his ceiling than Darryll. If both the twins suddenly start to play up to their seemingly lofty potential this season, Florida State’s defense could take a much-needed step forward.Â
Both Desir twins entered the transfer portal after impressive freshman campaigns, and after dramatic negotiations, both returned to the Seminoles. That drama likely drove the price up a bit, and with Florida State currently one of the more cash-strapped programs with championship expectations, at least in most years, the players FSU did pay top dollar for need to deliver a major return on that investment.Â
At 6-foot-5, 264 pounds, Desir is the perfect build to play along a three-down defensive front, and though his workload was relatively limited as a freshman last season, he was an efficient and impactful pass-rusher. Across his 142 pass-rushing snaps, Darryll Desir’s 12.4 percent pass-rush win rate was second to only James Williams for the Seminoles, and while he didn’t record a single sack, his 20 pressures were just four shy of Mandrell’s.Â
The 2024 Florida State offensive line was a disaster, so last season, the Seminoles imported a veteran group of seniors. That, of course, proved to be merely a stopgap, not a solution, as all five of last year’s starters graduated and Hand was forced to rebuild the group again. This time around, the line will likely feature one homegrown starter, but with four transfers, there is little certainty about how the group will perform.
Typically, it goes the other way around, especially in the NFL, but in college football, a truly exceptional running back can make life much easier for his offensive line, and that’s what Norvell needs the top-rated recruit from his 2025 class to be. He also has the ability to do it with 4.11 of his 5.6 yards per carry coming after contact.Â
Kromah won’t be the lone back in the FSU backfield this year, splitting carries with Texas transfer Quintrevion Wisner after sharing time with Gavin Sawchuk last season. However, this year, Kromah should see the lion’s share of the carries while Wisner handles much of the third-down and passing-game usage.Â
Unlike Kromah and the Desir twins, Daniels wasn’t necessarily a highly-priced player at his position. Florida State was clearly hunting in the bargain bin for its quarterback, with Norvell betting that with his taking back over play-calling, he can get surplus value out of the position. Now, it’s up to Ashton Daniels to deliver that and play a level we haven’t seen from him yet in his lengthy career.Â
Daniels backed up Jackson Arnold for most of last season at Auburn, but once he took over, the offense took a clear step forward, aside from a 10-3 loss to Kentucky. Performances like that one, with 108 yards on 12-28 passing, are Daniels’ floor. But his 353-yard two-touchdown outing against Vanderbilt, with 89 yards and two more scores on the ground, are a ceiling that FSU can win with. If he plays to that level consistently, something he didn’t do at Stanford or Auburn, the Noles have a shot at eight wins. If he doesn’t, or even if it only comes in flashes, it won’t be enough to save his new head coach.
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