FSU football: Impact of non-contributors leaving the team

FSU football fans are still celebrating their big win over rival Florida while waiting to see who they’ll get matched up with in their bowl game later this month.

However, it’s also a time when FSU coaches have been out on the road recruiting, looking to close out on some of their top targets before the Early Signing Period later this month.

The transfer portal will officially open Monday, which will create a frenzy of players leaving and arriving at different destinations. FSU football has been one of the most effective programs at using the transfer portal to improve their team, and this year will be no different.

In fact, the process has already started, with three non-contributors exiting the program this week. The top signee in the 2022 recruiting class, Sam McCall, is no longer on the roster.

A report surfaced Friday night that two defensive tackles, Jarret Jackson and Shambre Jackson, were no longer on the roster. Jarret Jackson played the most of the three, appearing in 11 games and totaling 12 tackles as a reserve.

Defensive tackle is my No. 1 priority from the transfer portal for the coaches. The departure of two guys who were not impact players tells me they have a plan to address the position. Coaches have to improve the quality of their roster year in and year out, and getting players off who will not contribute is a way to do that while adding better players.

It’s also a good sign younger players have developed and already passed these guys on the depth chart. I wouldn’t be shocked to see other players exit the program once the transfer portal officially opens.

All you have to do is look at the roster for guys that have been at FSU for a couple of years without getting on the field. I could see at least one wide receiver, defensive back, tight end, offensive lineman, and one defensive end exiting the program. If you see a few guys like this entering the portal, there is no reason to panic.