FSU football: Transfer portal target Jaylen Key will announce decision soon

Major FSU football transfer portal target Jaylen Key will announce his decision by the end of this week, according to a report from On3’s Senior College Football Reporter Matt Zenitz.

The talented defensive back will choose between three schools: Florida State, Alabama, and Ole Miss. This recruitment process for the experienced safety progressed quickly after he entered the transfer portal on April 24th.

Key unofficially visited Alabama then he scheduled an official visit to Ole Miss. After the visit with the Rebels, he came down to Florida State for an official visit this past weekend before finishing up at Alabama for an official visit.

Here’s what he told Zenitz about FSU:

"“Of course with Florida State, it was a school that I would have loved to play for out of high school,” Key said. “It’s right at home, so it would be easy for family to be able to make it to those games. A lot of my family are actually Florida State fans, so that’s a big thing. Overall Florida State, I love the people there. I love Coach Norvell. A bunch of energy. He’s definitely a game-changer, man. Meeting him and being able to spend a lot of time with him, I definitely like Coach Norvell and the whole energy around that program and how they’re building it up. It’s a great thing to see. And the situation’s kind of match with mine and theirs.”"

He ultimately decided to cancel his visits scheduled at Oregon and Ohio State, which were planned for after the Alabama visit.

During the 2022 season, Key became a household name with the Blazers, recording 60 total tackles and three interceptions.

Luckily for the Seminoles, he is originally from the Tallahassee area, where he played football at Godby High School. He also grew up a fan of FSU. But FSU football fans were worrisome that Key decided to visit the Alabama Crimson Tide for a second time, especially given their success on the football field in the past decade and a half.

The safety position has become a pressing need for Florida State as we inch closer and closer to the 2023 season, considering that two potential rotational safeties have entered the transfer portal this spring in redshirt junior Travis Jay and junior Omarion Cooper.

While redshirt senior Akeem Dent and redshirt sophomore Shyheim Brown will be solid contributors to the position, there needs to be quality depth. Can FSU rely on true freshmen KJ Kirkland, Conrad Hussey, or Edwin Joseph? Could one of the Seminoles’ cornerbacks switch over to the safety position?

One forgotten piece is Class of 2023 JUCO safety Ashlynd Barker. He expects to officially visit FSU football this weekend. This player could be a recruitment to monitor if the Seminoles were to strike out on landing Jaylen Key. Barker has an official visit scheduled with Oregon State for next weekend.

Personally, I think it could come down to the wire with the Seminoles acquiring Key. It will be a tough battle with Alabama and Ole Miss. However, Florida State head football coach Mike Norvell has made a name for himself by acquiring talent in the transfer portal.