Florida State’s 2024 season didn’t go according to plan. A 2-10 finish was never on the cards after going undefeated in 2023. However, Mike Norvell is looking for a bounce back. Much has changed in his coaching staff. A new OC and a new DC. Even the QB room has a new leader. Considering Norvell’s contract extends till 2031, he is always keeping an eye on the future. Or, in the near future- the 2026 class, currently ranked 7th in the ACC with nine commits.

One way to evaluate the recruiting success of a program is by looking at the number of five-star and four-star players they have on their roster. However, a prolonged success is built on the back of securing your territory. For a college football program, that means your in-state talent. In Florida, three programs compete for those talented high school players: Florida State, Florida, and Miami. One of those in-state players, a linebacker in the 2026 class has committed to Mike Norvell’s program. That means something, right? Well, not really!

The player in question is Karon Maycock from Miami Central High School, a 4-star talent who committed to Florida State in February this year. Interestingly, another in-state program had extended him an offer in January. Billy Napier’s Florida Gators didn’t stop after Mike Norvell landed the player. The race has just begun.

Maycock has a number of offers from top CFB programs. The likes of LSU, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Missouri, and Georgia want the player on their roster. In his bid to land the linebacker, Billy Napier is relying on the services of his linebackers coach, Robert Bala. That’s where Mike Norvell’s headache starts.

The Gators’ 2026 class has just one commitment so far in 4-star quarterback Will Griffin. There’s a lot to add, and that may just start with Maycock. The player talked about his relationship with Robert Bala. The latter even visited Maycock last week. As per Maycock, “So far, things have been going well with the communication.” When asked about Bala, he said, “He’s a great coach, and it’s been good getting to know him better. He’s the type of person that makes sure you’re okay on and off the field. I’ve loved him so far, to be honest.”

That declaration of love for a rival coach is the last thing Mike Norvell wants to know from one of his commits. But that’s where we are. While Karon has yet to visit the Gators’ campus, Coach Bala has made sure he gets to know all about the program. And that official visit may also happen soon.

“I’m trying to set up an OV. We are still working on it, though. We haven’t gotten an idea of when to take one yet. Not really. But I am trying to get something worked out with them and talking about it,” Maycock said.

And there’s more to the story. It’s not just Coach Bala who is trying to persuade Karon.

Former teammate helping Gators land their target

When it comes to recruiting wars, there’s nothing like a little bit of high school reunion drama to get the pot agitated. Step forward Naeshaun Montgomery, the Florida Gators’ highly touted freshman receiver and former Miami Central teammate of linebacker Karon Maycock.

Montgomery’s been peddling Karon everything from the fresh energy at the Gators under Billy Napier to the opportunity to restore their Miami Central magic on a grander platform. And come on, who wouldn’t want to be continuing to catch rides to practice with your old friend?

Imagine the group texts, the Instagram direct messages, and perhaps a couple of FaceTime calls, all with Montgomery getting the Gators pumped up. Montgomery and Maycock’s relationship extends far beyond teammates, with Montgomery burning defenses as a premier receiver and Maycock shutting things down on the opposite side of the ball.

“He tells me it’s great up there, and he loves it up there,” Maycock talks about his conversations with Montgomery about the Gators. “Whenever we talk, he tells me how he wants me to flip. The main thing he tells me is that it’s great up there, and the coaches will love you and develop you.”

The coaching staff at FSU is most likely keeping Maycock’s phone away from him, reminding him of all the ‘hunky dory’ feelings in Tallahassee and how he’s the foundation of their 2026 class. FSU fans, meanwhile, are side-eyeing every recruiting update from the Gators like it’s a harbinger of doom, thinking that Billy Napier’s team is scheming some kind of heist.