North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Coleman Bryson (16) and linebacker Mikai Gbayor (4) react in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Florida State lands well-traveled LB Mikai Gbayor in transfer portal

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jan 15, 2026 7:58 PM ET

Mikai Gbayor's college football career looks like the perfect representation of life in the NIL and transfer portal era.

Gbayor is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker from Irvington, New Jersey. He's a former 3-star recruit who committed to the Nebraska Cornhuskers out of high school, but that was far from the first decision he made as a college football player.

In fact, Gbayor recently made a huge decision, and it really marks a step up for him as a linebacker.

After spending the 2025 season playing for Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels, the linebacker hit the transfer portal on Jan 9.

He's now made the decision to spend his final year with Mike Norvell and the Florida State Seminoles. Notably, 247Sports is reporting that he'll likely need to receive a waiver for one more season of eligibility.

His decision was announced on social media on Thursday afternoon.

BREAKING: FSU lands commitment from North Carolina LB transfer Mikai Gbayor

Gbayor played for DC Tony White and DL coach Terrance Knighton at Nebraska.

Now they reunite in Tallahassee:https://t.co/k0zv8Q0tMU
— Zach Blostein (@ZBlostein247) January 15, 2026

Mikai Gbayor on his fourth school in six years

Gbayor redshirted at Nebraska in 2021 and did not play as a redshirt freshman in 2022. In 2023 and 2024 he notched a combined 73 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

Gbayor then transferred to Missouri, but he left the Tigers after the spring semester. He appeared to be a big pickup for Belichick and the Tar Heels after leaving Mizzou, and he did have a productive season.

In one year with UNC, he notched 39 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble.

Gbayor will now try to make the biggest splash of his career at FSU, one of the most notable programs in college football. It makes sense that he chose the Seminoles, too, because he'll be reunited with defensive coordinator Tony White, who coached him at Nebraska.

From a 3-star recruit to a potential sixth-year senior who is now at his fourth school, Gbayor is absolutely a reflection of how crazy things have gotten in college football.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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