Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 34-17vs New Mexico State | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#20
Blake Nichelson
Senior linebacker for Florida State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′3″ · 222 lb · Ripon, CA · Manteca
CFB Index 42 · #361 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Florida State for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
3
tackles · 2026
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, vs New Mexico State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Florida State. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Florida State in 2023.
Blake Nichelson
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. He has spent four seasons in the Florida State linebacker corps. The receipt on tape: 3 tackles against New Mexico State, Week 1, 2026.
3 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
20238 games
- Signed with Florida State4-star out of Manteca
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Florida State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Florida State
Played his entire career under Mike Norvell.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Mike Norvell — 21-19 over that span.
2023Florida State13-1HC: Mike Norvell · Balanced
2024Florida State2-10HC: Mike Norvell · Balanced, slow tempo
2025Florida State5-7HC: Mike Norvell · Run-leaning
2026Florida State1-1HC: Mike Norvell · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 3.0 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Mike Norvell
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
42 · #361 of 583 LBs
Former four-star. Now #361 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #47 of 74 ACC LBs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Florida State | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Florida State | 43 | 24 | 6.5 | 1.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Florida State | 45 | 19 | 4.0 | 0.5 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Florida State | 12 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Career | 103 | 48 | 10.5 | 1.5 | 2 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 34–17
3 TOT · 2 SOLO
With A. Daniels — 202 yds · 1 TD · 1 INT · QBR 72.0 · 30 rush yds (8 car) · 1 TD · S. Singleton — 42 rush yds (9 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Florida State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Florida State
Returning around him
- 1 Florida State player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -22 net (22 in / 44 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Florida State · Last season: 5-7 (AP #25) · Talent rank #21 · 2026 recruiting class #16
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Taiwan Berryhill’s 2022 season.
78%match
Matches Taiwan on
TFL rate
Tackle volume
Solo tackle rate
Differs from Taiwan on
Height (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Ethan Powell's junior season at San José State (2024).
Matches Ethan on
TFL rate
Weight
Height
Differs from Ethan on
Hurry rate (lower)
PD rate (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Blake Nichelson
Background
ACCOLADES: 2025: ACC Academic Honor Roll 2023: FSU Team Honors - Special Teams Newcomer of the Year...All-ACC Academic Team 2025 (Junior): Played 12 games and started final six games of season...recorded 43 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery...secon...
The linebacker corps · Florida State
- #10Chris Jones132 tackles · 2025
- #20Blake Nichelson43 tackles · 2025
- #9Omar Graham Jr.38 tackles · 2025
- #28Mikai Gbayor36 tackles · 2025
- #41A.J. Cottrill15 tackles · 2025
9 more on the roster · Florida State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology