Florida State Seminoles football hasn’t just been losing—it’s been unraveling at the seams. From an undefeated playoff snub in 2023 to an absolute nosedive in 2024, the Seminoles went from feeling disrespected by the committee to straight-up disrespected by reality. A 2-10 record, a last-place finish in the ACC, and a coaching overhaul that looked more like an episode of CSI: Tallahassee than a strategic reset. But just when you thought the offseason couldn’t get messier, one of Mike Norvell and his FSU’s newest additions decided to start talking. And not just any talking—Alabama trash talk, the kind that gets remembered, screenshotted, and posted on every locker room wall in Tuscaloosa.
James Williams, a former Nebraska defensive end who transferred to Florida State, wasted no time setting the stage for his debut season. On Tuesday, he declared that caught the eye of TDA magazine, “I’m here to dominate against Alabama,” planting his flag in the ground before ever taking a snap in garnet and gold. A bold stance, considering he’s joining a program that just finished dead last in the conference. If you’re going to step into the FSU-Alabama showdown and start calling shots, you better bring more than just words and game-changing plays. Something the Seminoles were severely lacking last season.
Williams’ comments put more pressure on HC Mike Norvell than him. Bama doesn’t forget slights, and Saban’s successor—Kalen DeBoer—certainly won’t let this go unnoticed. The Tide reload, not rebuild, and you can bet their offensive line is already taking note of Williams’ words. And let’s be honest—Florida State has enough problems without giving Alabama extra motivation.
The Seminoles already lost their offensive coordinator, Alex Atkins, to LSU, a move that feels more like a gift-wrapped present for Brian Kelly than a shake-up for Florida State. Losing coaching talent and chirping at SEC giants is a dangerous game, one that can backfire spectacularly if the on-field product doesn’t measure up.
They did grab Gus Malzahn from UCF to fill the OC spot, but Atkins’s impact was more than just play-calling; he was a key recruiter, getting those 5-star guys to buy in. Proof? As soon as Atkins left, their loyal 5-star OL commit, Solomon Thomas, decommitted. So, while Norvell’s dealing with the fallout of LSU’s gain (and they did get a new DE, by the way), they’re facing quite a challenge.
The reality is, Williams hasn’t exactly lit up the stat sheet in his college career. In his 2 seasons for coach Rhule and Huskers, he recorded 18 tackles and seven sacks over two seasons—not exactly the numbers of a guaranteed game-wrecker. His confidence is commendable, but Florida State fans have seen enough hype without the results to back it up.
Mike Norvell and now Williams will have a lot to prove in 2025. The 6’6”, 250-pound edge bravado might fire up the locker room. It won’t mean much if the team doesn’t deliver on Saturdays. Talking big is one thing—dominating Alabama is another beast entirely.
In stating his ambitions for the upcoming year, he unintentionally threw a future foe under the bus. Even an ACC team is also on the Florida State schedule. With Alabama looming on the schedule and even Wake Forest—yes, Wake Forest—potentially circling this game now.
Florida State’s newest addition, James Williams, didn’t just make a bold declaration about his plans for 2025—he also caught Wake Forest with a vicious stray in the process. While outlining his mission to dominate Alabama, Williams made it pretty clear that some opponents simply aren’t on his radar.
“I’m not just here to be a recruiting face for you guys; I’m here to dominate against Alabama,” Williams said. “I want to make sure I’m not just good against Wake Forest—I’m ready for Clemson, Miami, and all of those big games that we have, and Florida at the end of the year.” If you’re a Wake Forest fan, that one stings.
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