Highlights from FSU coach Mike Norvell at 2026 ACC Kickoff
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One of the league's most embattled coaches took the podium on the first day of the 2026 ACC Kickoff on Wednesday.
Florida State's Mike Norvell was the second coach to speak at media days, and his segment was certainly highly anticipated given the pressure he faces this season. Norvell had the Seminoles on the brink of a College Football Playoff berth in 2023, but the program has bottomed out over the last two seasons, in which Norvell holds just a 7-17 record.
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His seat is viewed as one of the hottest in America, and Norvell will likely need a turnaround to save his job this fall. Here's what the FSU coach had to say during his press conference on Wednesday.
Experience leading the team to gel
Though the last couple of years have been rough for the Seminoles, Norvell said that experience will be a boon for his squad this fall.
"It's a team that's hungry with the work, but also how they've continued to gel together. It's a talented group. It's one that's got a great mix of guys that've been here through the journey. I think every position has some key contributors that've been here for multiple years, that've come through the high school ranks that've had a chance to grow and develop through highs and lows."
QB Ashton Daniels becoming more comfortable
For the fourth year in a row, FSU will have a new starting quarterback this fall. The Seminoles brought in Ashton Daniels, who started at Stanford in 2024 and for Auburn down the stretch in 2025. Though he has been a bit inconsistent, Norvell said Daniels is becoming comfortable in the offense.
"When he came into the program, I had a lot of excitement and did a ton of research getting to know Ashton and his journey, who he is, what I could expect. I talked to every head coach that he's been under, basically every coach he's been with, so I had a pretty good feel of the young man that was coming in. But I've been so very pleased since he got here in January. …He came in with no promises. He came in to earn the job, he came in to win the job. That's something he showed through his productivity, in his work and earning the respect of his teammates.
"…Through the summer, you've seen the comfort whether it's within he quarterback drops, the way he's throwing the football. You can turn on the film and see the playmaking ability and glimpses he's shown throughout his career. But he's been progressed through it, he's been in a lot of different situations, too. He got thrown in the fire early, and all different dynamics with team and guys that are around him. I believe he's got a really talented group and he's embraced what that expectation is for him."
WR Duce Robinson a key cog in the machine
Robinson was a bright spot on last year's 5-7 squad, finishing with 1,081 yards and six touchdowns. Norvell said he has continued to grow and become a leader for the team.
"This football team has Duce's DNA around it. That's one of the greatest compliments I can give a player. From that time back in January, this is what is needed. Anyone can run to a coach. But I'm not going to be out there on the field. But that is OUR expectation. It's not coaches vs. players, it's ours, it's Florida State's expectation to look this way. And players are pushing that. Duce is a great player, but an incredible person. And the driving force for him is to get this program to go be what we all expect it to be. …For guys that've come in, he's our best returning player. And for that guy to be able to challenge himself — we coach him hard — and him wanting more, you can take young receivers like Devin and Jasen, for them to see that, that's going to have an impact on him."
"We've seen that across the board. Ja'Bril Rawls. Ashlynd Barker has been outstanding this summer. Everyone has their journey. Those guys have had highs and lows throughout their careers, but what is it going to be for this season? We get to write the story."
Seminoles avoiding outside distractions
With the failure of the last two seasons and the chatter surrounding Norvell's future, potential distractions abound for FSU. Norvell said the team is focused on controlling what it can control.
" I think you got to focus you you got to focus on the things that you can control. Nobody's happy with what the results have been the last couple years. And ultimately we have our expectation. We have our demand for what we want it to be and look and we know what it takes. And that for the players, if you get caught up trying to to prove the outside or challenge the outside and, it's all about, the distracted focus of, the what's necessary man, you're going to miss some steps.
"And, ultimately that's been all of our focus. I can tell you for myself, for the coaches, for, the players, it's been what can we do today to go showcase who we are, right? Because ultimately you could try to fight right now and say for what it's going to be. It's still going to come down to the action and let's make sure that we're best prepared to go prove what this team is capable of and what we can accomplish and all that we can do."
Defense looks to be a strength
While Florida State's offense was inconsistent last year, its defense was solid under new coordinator Tony White. Entering White's second season, Norvell is pleased with the development on that side of the ball.
"I think that this defense is, we've got a really good match and we're set up really well for what I believe we're going to be capable of doing. And obviously we've got some, as I mentioned throughout, great returners, but we've also been able to bring some guys in from the outside that I think are going to make a tremendous impact. And the intricacies of this defense, I think it's—you do so much and there are so many different ways to attack, so many different ways that you can present alignments, structures, pressures.
"And for the confidence that our guys that have been in it, to be able to even share with some of the newcomers like Mikai Gbayor that came in—he's a guy that's played in the defense—that even though he's new to Florida State, he has a good understanding of some of the things we're asking him to do. So having that to help carry over to position groups, as well as just the individual players, has really been good. And if you look back at Tony's career as a coordinator, that's been at a couple different stops, that second year, you see that jump. And really throughout this defense across the country, I mean, it's one that I'm excited for what that's going to be because of the players that we get to coach and just the familiarity that our staff has and what they're able to do."
New front office additions paying dividends
Norvell didn't shake up his staff significantly after last season, though he did add some new faces to the front office, including a new general manager in John Garrett. Norvell said that it has freed up the coaches to actually coach.
He added that the team is in a solid roster situation given the opportunity for a number of players to return for a fifth season under new NCAA rules. As a result, Norvell said FSU expects to sign a small high school class in 2027.
"It allows our coaches to focus on the recruiting connections, doing the things that we need to do, but also allows our players to be involved with the football, the preparation, the workouts, and all of that. That's where I'm grateful to be able to be back into doing more of that work. It's really been good to see those guys come together. We have a unique opportunity right now because with the new five-for-five, that's changed so much of the dynamics in our recruiting. As you sit there and look at it, I think we have 12 guys that are truly going to be seniors without an opportunity to potentially come back now.
"So we're going to sign a small high school class. Part of that is because of the projection of roster retention moving forward. It kind of reminds me a little bit of 2022, how that roster unfolded, where you had guys that — man, we're going to have some really good players, but we'll have some decisions there as it all unfolds."
What Tom Herman brings to the table
Norvell added some head coaching experience to his staff this week, bringing on former Houston, Texas and Florida Atlantic head coach Tom Herman as an assistant to the head coach. He said Herman's experience has proved helpful.
"He came through in the spring. It was something we had generally discussed, but he was still trying to finalize his situation there. He came back in the summer, and we really sat down and talked about the role. Tom is extremely intelligent. He's a guy that's been a great coach throughout his career, doing some wonderful things. But I think he can come in and really provide a unique perspective and different experiences.
"I was glad that it was able to work out to have him here for this year and what he's going to be able to provide for the staff. He'll continue to help elevate us in all different areas."
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Highlights from FSU coach Mike Norvell at 2026 ACC Kickoff