FSU Football: Top Ten Seminoles On Portal Watch | By The Numbers
With ninety players currently on Scholarship for Florida State and another transfer period approaching we take a look at all the factors influencing a minimum of five Seminoles to hit the open market.
Twitter | @MelinasPhotos
The Numbers & What They Mean
For the first time in a long time Mike Norvell and his Florida State Seminoles will have to make some tough decisions. As things currently stand when the rest of the freshman arrive the Noles will have 90 scholarship players. While that is fine and dandy during the spring and summer you must enter fall camp and the season with no more than 85.
Simple math leads us to the conclusion that following spring camp if everyone arrives on campus as planned at least five players must either voluntarily transfer or be āconvincedā into it. Of course this does not take into account any additional incoming transfers following spring practice. I believe the actual number will be closer to 8-10 exiting the program.
We will take a simple approach to working out the numbers by eliminating three major groups that are highly unlikely to enter the portal as follows: The Battleās End retainment signees, incoming high-school freshman, and new incoming transfers.
(Not too far off for a troll)
Process of Elimination
The Battleās End
Dennis Briggs
Jordan Travis
Tatum Bethune
Kalen Deloach
Renardo Green
Jarrian Jones
Darius Washington
Joshua Farmer
Kevin Knowles II
Malcolm Ray
Patrick Payton
Ayobami Tifase
Rodney Hill
Robert Scott Jr.
Kentron Portier
Lawrance Toafili
Fabien Lovett
Trey Benson
Akeem Dent
Mycah Pittman
Azaryeh Thomas
AJ Duffy
Jakhi Douglas
Brendan Gant
Johnny Wilson
Derrick McClendon II - There is an old saying when it comes to assuming things. Noles247 and other sites by now have reported that Derrick is in fact one to worry about. While I have no inside information Iām at liberty to share with you all, when you line up all the soft factors it makes perfect sense that he would be tempted to test the waters.
Jared Verse
Tate Rodemaker
DJ Lundy
Shyheim Brown
Winston Wright Jr
Qaeshon Sapp
Really a great point from the @KindaFitSmurf
True Freshman
Hykeem Williams | 5* WR | 6ā 5ā On-Campus
Brock Glenn | 4* QB | 6ā 2ā
Lucas Simmons | 4* OL | 6ā 7ā
Lamont Green Jr | 4* DL | 6ā 4ā
Blake Nicholsen | 4* LB | 6ā 2ā
Keith Sampson | 4* DL | 6ā 3
Sam Singleton | 4* RB | 6ā
Conrad Hussy | 4* S |
Vandrevious Jacobs | 3* WR | 5ā 11ā
Jabrill Rawls | 3* DB | 6ā 2ā
Kenton Kirkland | 3* DB | 6ā2
Quindarrius Jones | 3* DB | 6ā 2ā
Jaden Jones | JUCO | 3* DE | 6ā 6ā
Demarco Ward | 3* LB | 6ā2
Darren āGoldieā Lawrence | 3 * WR|
Christopher Andre Otto | 3ā OL |
Edwin Joseph Jr. | 3* DB |
Dylan Brown-Turner | 3* LB |
Not the response I was looking for when I asked the question of who you all thought would be likely become transfers. Nonetheless it is based in fact, or at least perception. High-School recruiting must and will greatly improve for #Tribe24 | @RickyBobby_NY
Incoming Transfers
50.) Jaheim Bell | TE
Darrell Jackson | DT (Nose)
Caziah Holmes | RB
Kyle Morlock | TE
Casey Roddick | IOL
Jeremiah Byers | OL
Keiondre Jones | IOL
Fentrell CypressII | CB
Braden Fiske | DT
Tyler Keltner | K
Gilber Edmond | DE
Waiting on a waiver
61. DāMitri Emanuel | OG
Remaining Players
(in no particular order)
Omarrion Cooper | CB ā”ļø S
Joshua Burrell | Wr ā”ļø RB ā”ļø ?
Deuce Spann | WR
Darion Williamson | WR
CJ Campbell | RB
Stephen Dix Jr. | LB
Omar Graham | LB
Preston Daniel | TE
Jerale Powers | TE
Jackson West | TE
Antavious Woody | DL
Byron Turner Jr. | DE
Zane Herring | OL
Aaron Hester | DE
Bless Harris | OL (T)
Thomas Schrader | OL
Kanaya Charlton | OL
Julian Armella | OL
Jaylen Early | OL
Bryson Estes | OL
Daughtry Richardson | OL
Ryan Fitzgerald | K
Bishop Thomas | DL
Dante Anderson | DL
Brian Courtney | TE
Markeston Douglas | TE
Maurice Smith | IOL
Alex Mastromano | Punter
Both Guys @Xblskater named made the list but I didnt add another WR. It is certainly a possibility but im thinkin moreso after this season we see a few go.
Top Ten Most Likely Transfer Candidates & Why
( No Particular Order)
Joshua Burrell - ATH RB/WR
When Burrel first arrived alongside promising wide reciever Malik Mcclain in 2021 most Nole fans saw his flash of athleticism as a hope for the future of the wide receiver room. Mclain took the early lead and established himself as a part time starter headed into year two with Joshua showing to true potential.
Then came the 2022 transfer class that saw Mycah Pittman, Johnny Wilson, Winston Wright Jr., and Deuce Spann all transfer in with the latter most being a simply bigger and stronger version of Burrell. The continued growth of guys like Portier and niches solidified by guys like Jakhi Douglas left Burrel and McClainās station within the room to plummet.
Burell decided to attempt a switch to RB to earn playing time and help the team, but with the emergence of Trey Benson, Caziah Holmes waiting in the wings plus freshman Rodney Hill that too seems fruitless. A RB in Trashaun Ward transferred to K-State and WR McClain to Penn State. Time will tell if Burell is content to battle at FSU or transfer for playing time but he is an obvious candidate.
CJ Campbell - RB
Similar to Trashaun Ward, Campbell is a former preferred walk-on (still technically one at the moment) running back brought in by Norvell and another success story having won a key role in the running back room and getting on full scholarship. He easily could have been a focal point of the offense in 2020 or 2021 but the talent level at the position like the rest has skyrocketed and he should use the oppurtunity in a similar manner to Ward to secure a starring role in someones backfield.
Antavious Woody - DL
Not a ton to say here as Woody has had made no real waves, good or bad. The metamorphosis of the defensive line room is right up there with OL and WR. While Woody may likely end up being a part of the rotation miving forward, a spot in the two deep seems highly unlikely at this point and it would simply be a roster churn move.
4.) Kanaya Charlton - OL
Similar to Mr. Woody Kanaya is an9ther great young man and a hard worker who simply has a super steep mountain to CLIMB in order to become a key member of the OL rotation. The Noleās steep incline year over year claims another victim. It all depends on his feelings on the matter, whether he is willing to battle all the way through his eligibilty for the hope of someday earning a job or to go somewhere to contribute immediately.
5.) Aaron Hester - DL
Hester is a nice player but the Seminoles roster and its defensive line group is jeaded for a higher plane. I donāt know if there is a future in which he is a major factor. He has time but we will see how he feels following camp. With several of the younger guys already ahead and transfers incoming we likely see one of the group go. To be clear I have heard nothing from any sources on Hester in particular just a numbers game.
Derrick McClendon II- DL
Since the original posting of this article 247 reported on this developing story. His redshirt sophomore label is a misnomer having a normal redshirt year plus a covid year, and is really a fifth year guy. While I canāt confirm or deny these reports the addition of Gilber Edmund along with Jared Verseās surprise return give plenty motive for guy who āwaited his turnā and likely feels he earned a certain level of status. Only time will tell and we will keep you updated on this status.
7. Jackson West - TE
Kyle Morelock, Jaheim Bell, and Markeston Douglas find themselves on a different level that the rest of the TE room. When West was originally brought in had hoped he could develop into one heck of a tight-end and an improvement over a really sad group minus Cam McDonald. The situation is totally different now and tight-end is all the sudden a strength of the recruiting staff basically overnight along with Douglas totally seperating himself from the rest of the group.
Brian Courtney - TE
While Courtney is young he is also a likely candidate due to the sheer numbers at TE and the giant chasm between the top three and bottom six or seven.
9.) Zane Herring - OL
I had such high hopes for Zane when he came in. After years and years of absolutely horrid OL recruitment with low numbers and low quality things began to take a turn and no one in the country is better at coaching them up than our boy Alex Atkins.
Problem for Herring is that with the Noles continued rise and Atkins proving his metil, the recruiting has increased year over year and adding three transfer OL plus a freak of nature like Lucas Simmons on top of him being a ways down the depth chart to begin with provides him with limited options if he wants to be a part of a CFB starting unit, but to transfer.
Omarrion Cooper - CB ā”ļø Safety.
Duke Cooper was the very first player that came to mind following the 2022 season. I donāt see him as being a part of the bottom ten players on scholarship whatsoever, the problem is I also donāt see him as a starting cornerback with the addition of Cypress and development of Renardo Green and Azaryeh Thomas.
Duke came to FSU in a time of total upheaval and change and quickly became a leader and the best corner in the DB room his freshman year. Nagging injuries, a relentless schedule and increased talent around him led to a rocky sophomore slump.
The path to a starting spot at FSU likely will never appear for him at cornerback, though I have hope with his switch to safety and had been hoping he would battle for a spot there. With Shyheim Brown and Akeem Dent holding the top two spots he could certainly challenge for a big-time role in the safety room and set himself to be a leader and starting piece heading into his money year in 2024.