FSU football coaches did well in the Early 2024 Winter Transfer Portal window. They added 11 quality players at positions of need. FSU coaches expected attrition, mostly from players in the 2021 or 2022 high school recruiting cycles or last year's transfer portal classes.
They kept nearly all of the players from the 2024 high school recruiting class except Luke Kromenhoek. That was until former four-star defensive end DD Holmes entered the portal right before the deadline on Saturday.
UPDATE: Florida State freshman defensive end DD Holmes has decided to enter the transfer portal.
— Norvell Central (@CentralNorvell) December 29, 2024
Best of luck to DD in the next chapter of his journey. 🙏#GoNoles pic.twitter.com/WGfWqP27qi
The news broke on Sunday, and some FSU football fans were sad to see the news. I suppose because the defensive end position lacks depth and he was a former four-star recruit.
Holmes ranked No. 329 overall and was the No. 42 defensive lineman nationally. He was 6'5 and 255 pounds but only appeared in one game (Charleston Southern).
Could Holmes develop into a solid player? Sure, but the fact he couldn't get on the field when FSU had zero pass rush in 2024 tells me he has a ways to go before playing any meaningful snaps.
Usually, it's the lack of physical development that keeps defensive ends off of the field, but Holmes was a large guy when he arrived at FSU last summer.
FSU added two defensive ends from the transfer portal and may add more. It could be the new defensive coaches didn't think he fit into the new scheme, or he didn't believe he had a future at FSU. Either way, it's not like he contributed or likely would have taken a large leap in 2025.
We'll probably have a better idea by tracking what FSU does at the position when the transfer portal opens again. We wish DD Holmes good luck wherever he lands.