Mike Norvell isn’t short on talent or targets. Florida State Seminoles’ recruiting board is filling up fast, already stacked with high-potential athletes who’ve either committed or are circling Tallahassee like heat-seeking missiles. But there’s a cloud hanging over Noles’ offseason planning—and it’s not just about who’s next to commit. The NCAA’s new 105-player rule is giving even veteran coaches pause. While Norvell’s program builds momentum toward a potentially top-tier class, the question lingers: How do you balance aggressive high school recruiting with limited roster flexibility?

As Locked On Seminoles’ Brian Smith noted, the math and the mystery have coaches on edge. “How does Florida State get better with the recruits they’ve got left?” Smith asked. “They got nine guys on the board committed. So, they want to get up over 20. I’m sure they want to get away from the portal. So, if they could push 25 recruits, Mike Norvell and his staff, I think they would if the right players come in.” But the real wrinkle comes from the logistical side of things. The shift from the traditional 85-scholarship cap to a 105-man roster brings new complexity.

“With the 105-player rule, we don’t know exactly where Florida State’s going to fall on that year-to-year,” Smith added. “Used to be, it’s a hard 85 cap. You had to be at 85 scholarships. With it going to 105, will they use all of those on true recruits, meaning guys they coveted out of high school, or would they still take some walk-ons? I don’t know the answer to that.”

That ambiguity could alter the blueprint of how Florida State closes out this recruiting cycle. “Florida State might play with that from year to year as well,” Smith said, underscoring just how fluid the program’s strategy might be. Still, the ceiling seems clear. “At the end of the day, I think Florida State will get close to 25 and they’ve got the list to do it.” Which brings us to Wednesday’s subtle, yet telling move. The Seminoles offered a scholarship to Jakobe Green, a three-star offensive lineman out of Niceville, Florida, and a current Mississippi State commit. On the surface, it’s a quiet nudge. In reality, it could be a signal that Norvell’s staff is ready to test just how flexible that 105-man threshold really is.

“I was surprised they hadn’t offered him earlier,” Smith admitted. “Offensive lineman out of Niceville, Florida, in the Panhandle, one of the better programs in the Sunshine State. I saw him at Under Armour Orlando, and he was really good, and I was surprised then—like he was committed to Mississippi State. I’m like, why hasn’t more programs made that concerted effort? What’s the deal? But anyway, Florida State has gotten around to offering him. 6’3”, 300-plus pounds. He’s an interior offensive lineman. He would be a very good addition to the Noles.” It’s the kind of late-cycle recalibration that championship-caliber staffs often make when they spot undervalued talent.

Green’s offer adds to a steadily growing offensive line pipeline. The Seminoles have already secured verbal commitments from three-star offensive tackle Xavier Payne and three-star interior lineman Michael Ionata. That trio could form the interior backbone of future Florida State fronts, a priority position group for Norvell as he reshapes the roster trenches. And with nine total verbal commitments in the 2026 class so far, which ranks No. 22 nationally, the program looks primed to leap once the final tally hits.

But make no mistake—roster math won’t fix what went wrong last season. Florida State’s 10-loss debacle was one of the program’s lowest moments in recent memory. Enter Gus Malzahn and Randy Shannon, brought in to overhaul the team’s two biggest dysfunctions: offensive creativity and defensive consistency. D.J. Uiagalelei never found his footing in the old system. The new-look offense is expected to be a more complementary fit for UCF transfer QB1 Thomas Castellanos, whose dual-threat skill set mirrors Malzahn’s historical prototype.

Mike Norvell’s redemption tour: From rock bottom to rebuild at FSU

Five years into the Mike Norvell era at Florida State, things were supposed to be trending sky-high. Coming off an ACC title and yet another top-10 transfer class, the vibes were strong in Tallahassee heading into 2024. But then—bam!—everything unraveled in spectacular fashion. The offense stalled, the transfer class flopped, and FSU endured its worst finish in program history, complete with a 60-point beatdown that still haunts the locker room walls. A 10-loss season? That’s not just a bad year—it’s a crisis.

But for Norvell, the mission is now crystal clear: never let that happen again. “I’m proud of this place, I’m proud of our program and the work that we’re putting in, and I’m excited about where it’s going,” Norvell said in a post-spring rallying cry. “It’s one of those things, you never get too high when you’re living high and obviously, when you get knocked down, it’s about how quick you can get up… We are moving forward, and I have great expectations for what’s in front of us.”

After opening the season with brutal losses to Georgia Tech and Boston College, both as double-digit favorites, the venom had fully set in. And Norvell’s once-celebrated extension? Now it feels more like a financial ankle weight.