Breaking: Florida State 4-Star Officially Appears In NCAA Transfer Portal
The former Seminole is, at the very least, intent on exploring his options elsewhere.
The latest NCAA Transfer Portal window has provided a couple of surprises in Tallahassee. The Seminoles expected some attrition going into the period but eyebrows were raised after players such as running back Rodney Hill, tight end Markeston Douglas, defensive tackle Malcolm Ray, and linebacker DJ Lundy announced their intentions to move on.
There was some hope that Florida State could right the ship before some of the names officially appeared in the portal. That is not the case with Hill, who is now in the database and able to communicate with other programs. It took him nearly 48 hours to officially enter the portal.
It’s worth noting that Ray (Monday) and Lundy (Wednesday) both declared they were transferring prior to Hill. However, neither has actually entered the database as of Friday evening.
Hill served as a member of Florida State’s running back rotation in 2023, recording 50 carries for 190 yards and a touchdown. He also caught five passes for 83 yards on the season. He recorded a season-high five carries for 42 yards in the close win against Boston College in September.
The Georgia native originally joined the Seminoles as a four-star prospect in the 2022 class. If he does indeed move on, Hill will finish his time in garnet and gold with 77 carries for 334 yards and two touchdowns.
Outside of Hill, the Seminoles have seen quarterback AJ Duffy (San Diego State), running back CJ Campbell, tight end Markeston Douglas (Arizona State), tight end Preston Daniel, offensive lineman Bless Harris, offensive lineman Thomas Schrader, offensive lineman Daughtry Richardson, offensive lineman Qae’shon Sapp, defensive tackle Ayobami Tifase, linebacker Dylan Brown-Turner, and kicker Tyler Keltner enter the portal.
Defensive tackle Malcolm Ray and linebacker DJ Lundy publicly announced they were entering the portal but have yet to do so at this time.
Star defensive end Patrick Payton previously declared his intentions to do so but removed the references on social media and never officially appeared in the database.
Florida State Standout Cornerback Declares for 2024 NFL Draft, Will Play In Orange Bowl
There have been many examples of growth on and off the field by a plethora of players since Mike Norvell arrived in Tallahassee. However, there might not be a person or player who has matured more than redshirt senior cornerback Jarrian Jones.
The Mississippi native has come a long way since he transferred to Florida State in 2020. This past season, he developed into one of the top defenders on the team while becoming a key voice in the locker room.
On Friday evening, the same day that Jones earned his degree at FSU, he announced his decision to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. He also confirmed that he’ll be playing one final game in garnet and gold. Jones will suit up for the Seminoles against Georgia in the Orange Bowl.
“Dear Nole Nation,
First and foremost I want to thank my family, your constant love and support has helped me become the man I am today. Without you, none of this would be possible.”
“To my Seminole Brothers, thank you for being a part of my journey. We brought this program back to the standard. We went out with a zero in the loss column and ACC Title that no committee can take away from us.”
“To my coaches, advisors, trainers, and staff, thank you for making me feel at home since day one. Each and every one of you had an important part in this team’s success.”
“To the fans, thank you for always pushing me to be able to be the best I can be. We had some growing pains early but ended it together on top. It’s really FSU vs the world and there’s no better fanvase to have behind you. I will always be a Seminole.”
“I am officially declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.”
Jones graded out as Florida State’s top overall player on defense, according to PFF. Despite a preseason injury, he played in 12 games, finishing with a career-high 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, three pass deflections, three interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one defensive touchdown. Jones was named an ACC honorable mention following the season.
During his four years with the Seminoles, Jones appeared in 44 games, with 28 starts. He totaled 84 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, five interceptions, 12 pass deflections, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one defensive touchdown.
The 6-foot-0, 191-pound cornerback accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl earlier this week. It remains to be seen if he’s offered a chance to participate at the NFL Combine.
Florida State will take on Georgia in the Orange Bowl on Saturday, December 30 to conclude its 2023 campaign.
