FSU football: Noles are suitors for Star transfer
FSU football has already seen redshirt freshman quarterback AJ Duffy intend to enter the transfer portal. As a result, the Seminoles will have scholarship options such as redshirt senior Tate Rodemaker, redshirt freshman Brock Glenn, and true freshman Luke Kromenhoek (if he signs with FSU).
Fans have witnessed what Rodemaker and Glenn are as signal callers at this point in time. Rodemaker completed 13 of his 23 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns versus North Alabama and then completed 12 of 25 passes for 134 yards against arch-rival Florida. Glenn had to step in Rodemaker for the ACC Championship Game (concussion protocol) versus Louisville where he struggled at times throwing the football. The true freshman completed 8 of his 21 passes for 55 yards.
The College Football Playoff Committee based its decision to move Florida State out of the top four due to poor quarterback play, which I believe is unprofessional and judgmental. Personally, I believe in both of these quarterbacks as the Seminoles starting to prepare for life without do-it-all signal caller Jordan Travis.
However, all three scholarship quarterbacks that will be on the roster next season do not have extensive collegiate starting experience. As a result, it is wise for head football coach Mike Norvell and company to explore their options at the position to least emphasize a sense of competition as well as an opportunity to develop the young players.
According to a report from ESPN College Football Senior Writer Pete Thamel, Florida State and Louisville have emerged as top suitors for Oregon State quarterback transfer DJ Uiagalelei.
The veteran signal-caller completed 180 of his 315 passes for 2,638 yards and 21 touchdowns with 7 interceptions during the 2023 season. For reference, Uiagalelei transferred from Clemson to Oregon State last offseason. Florida State plays Uiagalelei’s former team (Clemson) at home in Doak Campbell Stadium next year, while Louisville plays Clemson on the road in Death Valley.
Personally, I am skeptical right now in terms of Uiagalelei being a good fit for this Seminoles’ offensive system.
Breaking News: Promising Florida State Star Enters NCAA Transfer Portal
No matter the talent, sometimes it just doesn’t work out for certain players due to a myriad of reasons. That’s why the NCAA instituted the one-time transfer rule last offseason and thousands of athletes around the country have taken advantage of their rights to find a new place to call home. Graduates can still transfer at any given time.On Tuesday evening, redshirt freshman defensive lineman Ayobami Tifase announced his intentions to explore his options in the portal after two years at Florida State. Tifase will retain three seasons of eligibility after appearing in a trio of games for the Seminoles in 2023. He saw action against Southern Miss, Syracuse, and North Alabama, recording his lone career tackle in the win over the Orange.
As a young prospect in a deep defensive line run that fielded veterans such as Fabien Lovett, Braden Fiske, Dennis Briggs, Malcolm Ray, and Joshua Farmer, it was tough for Tifase to break into the rotation despite his promising skillset. It didn’t help that injuries at certain points limited his ability to consistently practice.
Regardless, it was obvious that Tifase is a talented player when he’s available. NoleGameday even named him one of our early pleasant surprises during Florida State’s slate of fall practices back in August. Tifase had some dominant stretches when the team was practicing at UNF in Jacksonville. This is a disappointing conclusion to his tenure in Tallahassee after he redshirted while he was ineligible to play last year.
The Maryland native was a late addition to FSU’s 2022 recruiting class, ultimately choosing the Seminoles over Arkansas, Virginia Tech, and UConn in the summer leading up to the season. At the time, his relationship with head coach Mike Norvell and defensive line coach Odell Haggins were factors in signing with Florida State.
As of now, FSU has five scholarship defensive tackles who are eligible to return in 2024, including redshirt junior Malcolm Ray, junior Darrell Jackson, redshirt sophomore Joshua Farmer, redshirt freshman Daniel Lyons, and true freshman KJ Sampson. The Seminoles will add three-star Jamorie Flagg and likely another prep prospect and potentially a portal player to the fold.
Tifase is the eighth player from Florida State to enter the portal since the conclusion of the regular season and ACC Championship. He joins quarterback AJ Duffy, running back CJ Campbell, tight end Markeston Douglas, tight end Preston Daniel, offensive lineman Daughtry Richardson, offensive line Qae’shon Sapp, and linebacker Dylan Brown-Turner.
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