Florida State’s steady, still-rising senior linebacker
In the 2026 season, Blake Nichelson is an active senior linebacker for Florida State, and he opened the year with 3 tackles against New Mexico State before being listed as a co-starter and later ruled out for the SMU game with an injury[2][3][14]. At 6-foot-3 and 222 pounds, he brings a long, physical frame and has shown steady year-over-year production, including 43 tackles in 2025 and consecutive 40-plus tackle seasons[2][8]. The knock is that he still looks like a player with more ceiling than finished product, but the upside, toughness, and scheme fit make him a useful defensive piece when healthy[8][10].
