Florida State’s new offensive line coach Herb Hand was handed the tall task of rebuilding a struggling unit for the Seminoles. He made a few massive additions in size and experience from the portal this offseason. Now, he’s working on building the future and just landed what could be a major building block. During FSU’s Legacy Weekend, the name held true as the Noles secured the commitment of legacy offensive lineman Michael Ionata.
On Saturday, the massive 6-foot-6, 300-pound lineman out of Calvary Christian in Clearwater, Florida, announced his commitment via social media. Michael is the son of Joey Ionata, who was an All-American offensive tackle for the Seminoles in 1988. His Uncle John was also an All-American offensive tackle for FSU in 1985 and his brother currently plays for Alabama. It’s clear that Michael’s bloodline is impressive and makes you excited for his future.
He is currently a three-star recruit according to 247 and On3, ranking as the number 68 interior offensive lineman in the 2026 class (247). Michael chose FSU over Kentucky, North Carolina, West Virginia, and others stating in his post-commitment interview that the staff created a connection that made him feel like part of the Florida State family.
Ionata’s upside is his massive size at 6-foot-6, 300 pounds with long arms and big hands. His size is something that Herb Hands covets up front and Ionata should fit well in his inside zone blocking scheme. He currently starts at left tackle for Calvary Christian. Michael is not the most athletic player but does have imposing size and power to move defenders around. There will be some development needed both physically, and in his technique, but he has the potential to play inside or at tackle if things go well in his development. If Hand and Storms can reshape his body and get the athleticism to match the size, he could be a plus player for FSU.
Ionata joins FSU’s 12th ranked (2nd in ACC) 2026 class as the second offensive lineman joining 6-foot-7, 320-pound offensive tackle commit Xavier Payne. Thanks for reading and Go Noles!
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