Florida State football has had a ton of losing seasons over the past eight years, but the fan base has to turn the page in 2026 and hope that the program gets back in the win column. It cannot get much worse, as they recorded seven total wins in the last two years.
The Seminoles have retained head coach Mike Norvell for the 2026 season. Many individuals have expressed their concern, but the administration made the choice to keep him around. Whether it was about the price tag of the buyout or their confidence in him, this is something that will define Florida State.
The first line of business was grabbing new coaches for the staff, and surprisingly enough, defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. was the first one to be relieved of his duties. This caused frustration among the players on the roster and the fan base.
One player who was impacted by Surtain Sr's firing was defensive back Ja'Bril Rawls, who announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal. This was a bad look for the university that was considered "DBU".
Defensive back Quindarrius Jones is someone who could be a sleeper in the Seminoles' defense in 2026
Florida State decided to hire Michigan State's Blue Adams as the cornerbacks coach, keeping Evan Cooper as the safeties coach. The acquisition of Adams didn't create seismic waves around the program like Surtain Sr. did.
However, Ja'Bril Rawls and Ashlynd Barker decided to come back to Florida State after their short stint in the portal. The original thought was that the Seminoles only needed one or two defensive backs in the offseason.
The Seminoles grabbed Ma'Khi Jones, Nehemiah Chandler, CJ Richard Jr., and Karson Hobbs in the portal this offseason. This shows that the coaching staff didn't feel as confident in the position room. Quindarrius Jones is someone who should be monitored. He was rewarded the No. 0 jersey number, which was previously held by defensive back Earl Little Jr. (transferred to Ohio State).
Florida State had new transfers, but everyone seems to forget about senior defensive back Quindarrius Jones. The former three-star prospect had a setback with an injury last year. However, the Mississippi native was someone whom the coaches were excited about because of his skill set. Obviously, Jones has to stay healthy, but the blueprint is there for him to potentially start.