The great migration of the 2025 FSU Seminoles continues and it's another starting member of the 2025 secondary.
Ashlynd Barker, who worked his way into a starting role as a redshirt junior, has announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal. He joins Edwin Joseph and Ja"Bril Rawls as players that have announced attentions to transfer. FSU's other starting safety, Earl Little Jr., is expected to declare for the NFL Draft.
BREAKING: Florida State safety Ashlynd Barker plans to enter the @TransferPortal, his agent tells @On3Sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 28, 2025
He’s totaled 78 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 1 INT, & 2 PD in his time with the Seminoles
Barker started 9 games this season & has appeared in 36https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/a1fX8EgSmF
Barker's departure coincides with changes to the Seminoles' coaching staff that will affect the secondary. Cornerbacks coach Patrick Surtain Sr. was dismissed after the season and replaced by Blue Adams, who was at Michigan State last year.
Full rebuild in the defensive backfield
The Seminoles' secondary will have a lot of new faces on the field next year. Along with the losses of Barker, Joseph, Rawls and Little Jr., other players have likely exhausted their eligibility, like cornerback Jerry Wilson and safety Shyheim Brown. Reserve cornerback Cai Bates has also announced his intentions to transfer and cornerback Ricky Knight III's status is unknown after he was suspended indefinitely at the end of the season for off-field incidents.
FSU did not take a lot of defensive backs in the 2026 recruiting class, but Chuck Kennon was a five-star prospect early in this cycle and the incoming freshman from Sarasota has some legitimate upside. It's more likely they will try to reclaim some depth through the portal, although it's unsure what kind of resources will be available for the secondary after they decide on a quarterback, rebuild most of the offensive line and add at least one pass rusher.
New office additions have a lot of work to do
Thankfully, FSU has hired a General Manager and brought in additional front-office personnel this weekend because there is a lot of work to be done with this roster.
Everything likely starts with the quarterback, where the Seminoles are expected to pursue UNLV's Anthony Colendra and Old Dominion's Colton Joseph, both of whom have announced their intentions to transfer. However as more players that were expected to contribute or start in 2026 enter the portal, FSU could pivot and try to build a stronger roster around redshirt freshman quarterback Kevin Sperry and bring in a cheaper QB option to challenge him in the spring.