Florida State added plenty of transfers and high school recruits this offseason. As a result, the fan base will its work cut out for them as they try to learn the roster and all of their names. This is normal for today's college football landscape, where players seek the best opportunities.
This is a make-or-break year for the Seminoles and head football coach Mike Norvell, following a 5-7 record and a losing streak of seven of their last nine games. Florida State fans just want to see them competing for championships again.
As a wise man once said, you have to crawl before you can walk. However, Florida State has been crawling in its journey as a program as of late. The Seminoles have had six losing seasons in eight years. With that said, individuals hope that some of the transfers can have an immediate impact.
Linebacker target Mikai Gbayor has a chance to be a star in Florida State's defense
Let me start off by mentioning that Florida State fans were tricked by the acquisition of Nebraska defensive end transfer James Williams last offseason. The familiarity of being coached by defensive coordinator Tony White and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton was supposed to put him ahead of the curve.
However, that was far from the case with Williams, as he recorded 19 tackles (three for loss) and 1.5 sacks during the 2025 season (according to ESPN Stats and Information). It looked to be too much for the defender to handle when he was placed in a full-time role at the defensive end spot.
Former Nebraska linebacker Stefon Thompson was also on the team and had a few bright spots with the defense, with 37 tackles (3.5 for loss) and 3.5 sacks (according to ESPN Stats and Information). One other linebacker is looking to make an impact in 2026 after he was grabbed in the transfer portal, which was former Nebraska and North Carolina transfer Mikai Gbayor.
Gbayor has had 114 tackles (11.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks during his three-year collegiate career. The Seminoles also have players like Southern Miss transfer Chris Jones and four-star signee Izayia Williams in the position group that could make an impact.
I believe that the Seminoles finally get production from someone who is reunited with his former coach in Tallahassee, and Gbayor becomes a star for Mike Norvell.