The first major benchmark for FSU football is here as the Seminoles scrimmaged for the first time in fall camp on Tuesday night.
As usual, the mock game was closed to the media, but head coach Mike Norvell met with the media afterward, going over the itinerary of the scrimmage, mentioning how this was the first time this fall his team was able to work through “extended drives” and see players “in full pads make plays in space.”
“There were some explosive plays on both sides. We probably got around
70 to 80 plays on both sides. We got a couple of different situations, inside the 10-yard line work.”
As expected, coming into this scrimmage, the story would be about the quarterbacks and how they looked without coaches on the field next to them. Norvell spoke highly of Ashton Daniels’ performance on Tuesday and mentioned the “confidence” he is playing with as he grows throughout fall camp.
“I thought he’s done a really good job. You feel his command and control, (and) where to go with the football. From where we left in spring to where he’s been in the six days, even some decisions that he had tonight, you feel his command.”
Unfortunately, the head coach said that quarterback Malachi Marshall did not participate on Tuesday due to an injury, but they are hopeful to get him back “this week.”
On the defensive side, Norvell spoke highly of Tony White’s unit, saying, “You feel the speed of our defense,” and highlighted all three levels individually in his opening statement. It seems that year two in 3-3-5 has made it easier for the players to pick up the schemes, and a full offseason has allowed the coaching staff to bring in the right players. However, the head coach highlighted Ashlynd Barker for his play through the first half of fall camp.
“Ashlynd Barker had a couple of great plays tonight. He’s playing the rover position that suits him so very well…I think his leadership and mentality have been outstanding.”
On the administrative front, with the recent temporary restraining order granting the class of 2022 players an extra year of eligibility, Norvell commented on his program’s strategy for possibly bringing them back into the fold.
“We’ve talked to compliance. We’ve had some former players that we have communicated with or they reached out to get a sense of what it might look like. So, we’re just going to work through the process there. I know that it is definitely a unique dynamic.”
The Noles’ scrimmage on Tuesday begins one of the busiest weeks of fall camp. After practice tomorrow, FSU will head east down I-10 for two days at UNF in Jacksonville, a tradition under Norvell. Then, after an off day Saturday, the final and second scrimmage of fall camp will take place Sunday night. The time is now for Florida State’s cream to rise to the top and the 2026 team to start to band together, with week zero less than four weeks away.
Head Coach Mike Norvell: August 4, 2026
Video courtesy Noles247
