Running backJaylin Lucas is expected to enter the transfer portal after spending two seasons at FSU. The running back/return specialist came to Tallahassee from Indiana, where he was an All-American kick returner as a freshman in 2022.
With player-coach exit interviews scheduled this week at FSU, more players are announcing their intentions to jump in the transfer portal. Among those to already announce are freshman offensive lineman Mario Nash and freshman defensive lineman LA Jesse Harrold.
BREAKING: Florida State RB Jaylin Lucas plans to enter the @TransferPortal, he tells @On3Sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 10, 2025
He’s totaled 2,595 all-purpose yards and 9 TDs in his career
Was named a 1st Team All-American in 2022 https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/vHAMSrV1Vl
Lucas arrived at FSU in 2024 with some high expectations. He was one of the top kick returners in the nation and was seen as a Swiss-army knife on offense that could provide production at running back and wide receiver.
He was sparingly used in the first two games of 2024 before suffering a season-ending injury. Lucas got more work this year and had a promising start to the season with a 64-yard catch against Alabama. But his usage was pretty light overall, and Lucas never was the threat in the return game that FSU expected he would be.
Lucas finished the 2025 season with 160 yards rushing, 88 yards receiving and 221 return yards on nine attempts. Overall, the redshirt junior had 47 touches, averaging around four a game.
The right move for both parties
FSU had three guys that basically had the same skill set — Lucas, Squirrel White and Micahi Danzy. The first two were busts, while Danzy, the in-house guy, had a great season and should be one of the players that the Seminoles build the offense around in 2026. Lucas and White, both high-profile additions in the transfer portal, proved to be money that could've been spent elsewhere.
Lucas looked tentative most of the time when he touched the ball, and he was barely part of the return game despite his past success there. He'll probably get a lot of interest in the transfer market because he does have great speed and was extremely successful on special teams at one point in his career, but it never worked out in Tallahassee.