Florida State veteran no longer with team after failed position change

Bryson Estes' days as a member of the FSU football team are over.

The former offensive lineman switched positions to tight end during camp and hoped to contribute on short-yardage situations, but when the final rosters were released, Estes was not listed and is no longer with the team.

Estes, a three-star prospect from McDonough, Georgia, was part of Mike Norvell's first recruiting class in 2020. He received an extra year because of the abbreviated CoVID-19 season. Estes made sporadic appearances at guard in 2023 and 2024, but never consistently challenged for a starting spot and wasn't considered a major rotational piece.

The lack of playing time is what led to Estes changing positions in hopes of carving out a role as an extra tight end in short-yardage situations. He dropped some weight as part of the position move and was down to around 270 pounds. Estes' commitment to the team was a big reason why Mike Norvell wanted to find a role for him. 

“Bryson's a guy that he's been here for a good while,” Norvell said. “He's been a good program guy. We're trying to find a role, if he can be able to define that, maybe as a guy that can go in there and bring that physical presence in some of the multiple tight end sets."

The last of an underwhelming group

Estes was the final member of the 2020 and 2021 offensive line classes at FSU. The pandemic put a major hamper on the FSU staff's recruiting abilities and this was evident in the lack of production from these recruiting classes. FSU took six offensive linemen in these two classes and the success rate was low.

* 3-star Robert Scott was a little undersized at tackle, but held down a major role as a starter or major reserve until his eligibility ran out after the 2024 season.

* 3-star Rod Orr played sparingly and transferred to Toledo, where he played for two seasons until transferring to UAB in April. He is listed as a backup right tackle for the Blazers.

* 3-star Thomas Shrader struggled to find consistent playing time at FSU and transferred to South Florida in December. He is starting at left guard for the Bulls.

* 3-star Zane Herring could not crack the depth chart at FSU and transferred to South Florida in 2023. He is starting at right guard for the Bulls.

* 3-star Lloyd Willis played sparingly and transferred to Marshall in 2023. He entered the portal again in 2024 and his whereabouts since are unknown.

FSU mostly relied on transfers during the Alex Atkins era, which is notable for the poor results from the high school recruits brought in. Some, like Shrader and Herring, have found success elsewhere.