Much like defensive line recruiting during Mike Norvell’s tenure, linebacker has been a position that the Seminoles have struggled to evaluate and retain on the roster.

Of the eight linebackers signed by Florida State since the 2022 class, only one remains on the roster today — Blake Nichelson.

There is some nuance to that number. Juice Cryer transferred to Florida State from Northwestern the summer before his true freshman season due to the dismissal of then head coach Pat Fitzgerald. While Cryer has been with the program since his true freshman season, to call him a Norvell recruit would be inaccurate.

Additionally, 2025 signee Ethan Pritchard was hospitalized after being shot in the back of the head in September. Pritchard has made an inspiring and sensational recovery since then but is still faced with a daunting road back to the football field.

The remaining signees have either transferred or intend to transfer, with Omar Graham Jr. and Jayden Parrish announcing their intentions to enter the portal in January. It would be Graham’s second flirtation with leaving in as many years. Demarco Ward, Dylan Brown-Turner and Timir Hickman-Collins all transferred out and, of the three, only Ward has gone on to see playing time. He totaled 66 tackles with two interceptions and a forced fumble at Memphis.

Florida State was in desperate need of a quality linebacker class in the 2026 cycle and the Seminoles signed four linebackers in their gigantic 32-prospect class. Izayia Williams is Florida State’s first blue-chip linebacker signing since the aforementioned Nichelson in 2023.

“He is a special talent,” Norvell said of Williams. “He is what you want at that position when it comes to size, speed and physicality. He’ll have to come in and learn the game and continue to develop through that as he gets into the spring.”

Williams (6-1, 215) is one that Norvell thinks can have an immediate impact on the field despite coming back from an injury that forced him to miss the entirety of his senior season.

“He is well on track for where we want him to be in his rehab and all things,” Norvell said.

Behind Williams, Florida State has recruited a crop of physical, athletic linebackers that were very productive at their respective high schools in Miami Central’s Karon Maycock, Gadsden County’s Daylen Green and Walton’s Noah LaVallee.

Maycock (6-1, 200) was one of the earlier commitments to the class but Florida State had to fight off Alabama in the summer and Texas fervently in the fall to sign him. Maycock has played both safety and linebacker at Miami Central, so while he may currently be a bit of a ‘tweener’ (and that is reflected in his rankings), he projects as a speedy and versatile piece for Tony White. He totaled 87 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, six sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles at Miami Central.

Green (6-1, 210) is a local product from just down the road in Quincy, Florida, but it was a slow-burn recruitment for Green and Florida State. It wasn’t until he camped over the summer that the staff gave him the green light to commit, of which Green committed to Arkansas on his official visit a week later. Coaching changes in Fayetteville made it an easy flip for Florida State. Green is a violent hitter and extremely physical backer, who totaled 111 tackles including four tackles for loss as a junior.

LaVallee (6-1, 220) already has good weight to him coming out of Marietta (Ga.) Walton High School. Production is key when looking at the younger brother of FSU linebacker Caleb LaVallee. Noah totaled 350 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, two sacks, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in 37 games at Walton over his three years as a starter. LaVallee moves well in space and shows good instincts. Florida State won a head to head battle against Ole Miss to land the younger LaVallee brother.

“All four of those guys — they are runners, they are hitters, they can play in space. We feel like that group will elevate. And it was a position of need. That is a fast, play-making, explosive, hard-hitting group and they have shown that in their production at every stage of their careers,” Norvell said.

Linebacker has been a sore position of need for Florida State - especially with the pending portal departures from the room in January. Norvell and the FSU coaching staff desperately needed an infusion of talent into the linebacker room and have signed a quartet of extremely productive and physical linebackers — some of which could have an immediate impact in the room.

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