FSU football fans have been questioning Mike Norvell's moves in the transfer portal. I can explain most of the moves, but the latest one even has me asking what's going on.
FSU took 16 players in the Winter Transfer Portal, the second one was former FSU tight end Markeston Douglas. Douglas was at FSU in the early days of Mike Norvell before entering the transfer portal and playing for former FSU offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham.
Dillingham posted on social media after the 2024 season about helping Douglas get back closer to home, and the news broke would return to FSU shortly thereafter. Douglas went through spring camp and had lost about 30 pounds since his first time in Tallahassee. It looked like he may become an actual contributor since he was in better shape.
Douglas announced he was entering the transfer portal shortly before it closed last week. The thought was maybe he didn't fit what FSU was trying to do on offense. However, the news broke earlier Tuesday that Douglas would not be leaving FSU.
After testing the market for better menus, the Biscuit, Markeston Douglas, has decided to return to #FSU and help get the Noles cooking in 2025. pic.twitter.com/w9kHDjOBJ0
— Patrick Burnham (@OsceolaPat) April 29, 2025
Douglas posted clips from spring practice on his social media account shortly after posting that he'd entered the portal. That tells me that it was an amicable move since the coaching staff didn't have to provide that footage to him.
However, FSU coaches had some players use the portal to attempt to leverage the Noles for more money last year, and FSU fans hoped Mike Norvell learned his lesson. I don't know if Douglas received more money to stay, but FSU coaches started looking at replacements for him in the portal nearly immediately. If I had to guess, I'd say he didn't get more money since they let him go into the portal.
However, it's not a good look for Mike Norvell considering how several players tried to play the program last year and mailed it in the whole season.
We'll see how it plays out, but Mike Norvell had to stop being soft with these players. If they flirt with the portal and enter, that's got to be the end of it.