FSU football is in the transfer portal market for offensive linemen. They need several because there's a lack of talent and depth from the previous offensive line coach's failures, and they have gotten several players on campus since the portal opened nearly two weeks ago.
One target was UCF's Caden Kitler, who played for new FSU offensive line coach Herb Hand over the past two years. The redshirt sophomore has two years of eligibility remaining and had visited Arkansas earlier in the week before visiting FSU.
If this were recruiting a few years ago, you'd think FSU would have been in the driver's seat. They received the final visit before his decision and have the guy on staff who has coached him for the past two years. That wasn't the case, as Kitler announced he would commit to Arkansas on Thursday morning.
BREAKING: UCF transfer IOL Caden Kitler has signed with Arkansas, per @PeteNakos_🐗https://t.co/kSYG7dYADj pic.twitter.com/O8dW1O2tKM
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) December 19, 2024
Thoughts
On one hand, he must have maintained a good relationship with Herb Hand since he visited FSU. He also reposted several posts related to him on his social media account recently. So it can't be he didn't want to continue playing for Hand.
Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman is also a well-respected offensive line coach, and Arkansas is closer to where Kitler is from (Texas) than Florida.
Did it come down to what Arkansas was willing to pay, and FSU wasn't willing to match it?
It's the second former UCF guy that Hand coached that's gone elsewhere after visiting FSU. The other guy went to Minnesota, which isn't exactly a hotbed for football. I'd think FSU wanted Kitler if they brought him in for a visit.
I can't pretend to know the dynamics of how much they are willing to spend per player, but I know the offensive line continues to be a major need with only one offensive lineman committed from the portal so far.