Highly-touted Freshman recruit Izayia Williams is out with an injury for the rest of the season
The Florida State Seminoles have barely unpacked the equipment for the 2026 NCAA Football season, and they're already dealing with a slight setback.
Freshman recruit Izayia Williams, a 6'2", 230-pound linebacker, is out with an injury for the rest of the season, per a social media post from Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. The Sunshine State native was ranked the 44th player nationally, number-one linebacker, and number-five player in talent-laden Florida by Rivals. The football phenom was expected to be a contributor in the Seminoles'
"Unfortunate development," Zenith wrote before confirming his status level on the squad as the season got started. "The Class of 2026 top 140 overall recruit was expected to be a factor for FSU this season."
Indeed, Williams is something special, albeit the Florida State faithful won't get to see it on display until the Fall of 2027 now. During his prep days at Tavares (FL) High School, he was a two-sport athlete who competed in the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter events as well as the shot put, high jump, and long jump as a letterman on the track team. That combination of raw speed and explosiveness will serve him well once he gets his wheels moving again.
FSU Loses An Impact Freshman
It's a tough loss for the 'Noles, who had high hopes for the former high school standout. And for good reason; the recruiting website 24/7 Sports raved about Williams' ability in their overall talent assessment of this versatile athlete:
"Supercharged linebacker with the athletic juice to make headlines at the NFL Scouting Combine one day, but one who is still discovering all of his capabilities," the analysis states. "Owns elite speed and explosion scores for someone who’s already pushing 215 pounds and has one of the more unique track and field profiles in the class."
"Closes gaps with jurisdiction and can turn into a mallet as he slams opponents. Owns rare sideline-to-sideline range with his gallop and has continued to improve depth perception as a drop-coverage defender."
Meanwhile, the Seminoles have gone 1–1 to kick off the new year, in what will be a pivotal season for Coach Mike Norvell. After defeating New Mexico State 34–17 in their opener, they dropped a close 27–24 game to SMU.
