REVISITING THE 2024 TRANSFER PORTAL CLASS
Florida State fans were telling elite lies in the 2024 off-season after accomplishing an undefeated regular season and conference championship in 2023. Even though the heartbreak of the College Football Playoff snub existed, the Seminole faithful was confidence that black hoodie Mike was on a revenge tour.
The transfer portal pickups had Florida State fans acting like they had five-star pickups everywhere. The Seminoles added DJ Uiagalelei, Roydell Williams, Jaylin Lucas, Malik Benson, Jalen Brown, Jacob Rizy, Richie Leonard IV, TJ Ferguson, Marvin Jones Jr., Sione Lolohea, Tomiwa Durojaiye, Grady Kelly, Shawn Murphy, Cam Riley, Omarion Cooper, Davonte Brown, and Earl Little Jr.
Norvell is used to over 80% of his transfers produced when they are acquired during his previous seasons. However, this was an outlier, as the biggest five contributors this year were probably Malik Benson, Cam Riley, Sione Lolohea, Jacob Rizy, and Marvin Jones Jr.
For reference, Malik Benson only had 311 receiving yards, Cam Riley had 47 tackles, Sione Lolohea had 23 tackles, Jacob Rizy only started to play at the end of the year at the interior, and Marvin Jones Jr. had four sacks. That is a big disappointment and a major reason why the Seminoles went 2-10.
I believe that fans were more excited about most of these transfers being high school recruits that they missed out on during their respective recruitments. Out of this list of seventeen transfers, I am probably most excited for Richie Leonard IV (who should be back in 2025 after an injury), Jaylin Lucas, and Earl Little Jr.