FSU football coaches knew they needed transfer portal help at the wide receiver position in 2025. They needed it in 2024, but the two receivers they took were unproven and were not fruitful.
One is no longer on the roster, and FSU has several young receivers who need continued development. It's why FSU coaches shifted their strategy, aiming for more proven guys with production and experience.
They landed two in former five-star and legacy player Duce Robinson and Squirrel White. Robinson committed before the New Year, and White committed on January 5th, the final addition from the Winter Transfer Portal window.
FSU had offered former WVU receiver Traylon Ray and former Appalachian State receiver Kaedin Robinson. Ray took a visit to FSU on January 4th. However, he suffered a bad injury in November, and the timetable for his return is questionable. Could he play at the level he played before the injury in 2025? Coaches were not sure and they were waiting to see what Squirrel White would do.
Once White committed on January 5th, Robinson never made it to campus, and Ray visited other places before committing to Ole Miss on January 8th. That tells me FSU never pushed for either guy after White committed.
FSU has Robinson, White, and junior Hykeem Williams. They also have JUCO Jordan Scott, Lawayne McCoy, Elijah Moore, BJ Gibson, Jaylin Lucas, Jalen Brown, and Camdon Frier.
Freshmen Jayvan Boggs, Tae'shaun Gelsey, and Teriq Mallory will be on campus in 2025.
Robinson would have been a good get, but taking him and White might have sent a bad signal to the younger guys. It is also probably not a great use of resources. FSU taking Ray would have been a gamble with his health injury. I think FSU coaches are comfortable with which receivers they took from the portal while working to develop some of these young guys in 2025. They should be fine.