August 12, 2026
FSU Defensive Back Karson Hobbs Tears ACL, Lost for 2026 Season
The Notre Dame transfer, expected to compete for nickel corner duties, announced the injury Tuesday night on Instagram.
Florida State defensive back Karson Hobbs announced Tuesday night on Instagram that he has torn his ACL and will miss the entire 2026 season, delivering another blow to the Seminoles' secondary before the campaign gets underway.
Hobbs, a junior from Cincinnati, transferred to Florida State from Notre Dame in January. At Notre Dame, he appeared in 16 games over two seasons with one start, recording a career-high four tackles in his first career start against Texas A&M in 2025. When he signed with Florida State, the program planned to deploy him primarily as a nickel corner.
After all the hardships last year somehow we ended up right back with another great opportunity again just to find out that my season will no longer forgo due to my ACL being torn. I'm grateful for the countless memories and bonds I've been able to build since I've been at Florida State. I'm truly sorry things ended this way now without getting a chance, but I will be back better than ever knowing that all the pain, the late nights and tears shed were worth it because with God, anything is possible.
— Karson Hobbs, via Instagram
The announcement came two days after head coach Mike Norvell acknowledged that several players had been "banged up" following the team's second preseason scrimmage on Sunday. Hobbs was expected to compete for playing time in Florida State's secondary this season before the injury ended his chances.
Hobbs had spoken optimistically about his decision to join the Seminoles, citing the program's history and the coaching staff's development of defensive backs. "Overall, I think Florida State is a historic program," he said upon signing. "It really speaks for itself. And a guy like me, coming from Notre Dame, I see great opportunities. I just felt like what Coach Norvell and what the DB coaches here are doing, just really think they put me in a position to be successful and achieve my final dreams of going to the NFL."
Florida State enters the 2026 season under Norvell for a seventh year, coming off a 5-7 record in 2025. The Seminoles have undergone significant roster turnover, particularly along the offensive line, and the loss of Hobbs adds to the list of personnel challenges the program faces heading into the fall.
