Florida State football saw a departure on the roster via transfer, as On3's Hayes Fawcett reports on Monday that redshirt freshman defensive back Cai Bates has announced that he plans to enter the transfer portal.
BREAKING: Florida State CB Cai Bates plans to enter the @TransferPortal, he tells @On3Sports⁰⁰The 6’2 195 CB will have 3 years of eligibility left
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 15, 2025
Was ranked as a 4-Star Recruit in the 2024 Class⁰⁰https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/jRaTi2riYc
Bates played in seven games this season for the Seminoles. The former four-star prospect was thought to be a foundational piece that Florida State can build around. It does make sense that the Orlando native announces the move to the transfer portal with defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. being dismissed from the program.
The former high school standout was thought to be a rotational piece for the Seminoles. Bates played in seven games this year. This was a haul that the fan base was excited about, since Surtain Sr. landed four highly-touted prospects in the defensive backfield during the 2024 recruiting cycle.
Pieces such as Charles Lester III, Jamari Howard, and Ricky Knight III still remain on the roster for at least the time being, but they could all bounce if they do not like the new hire that Florida State brings in.
It was certainly concerning that interested candidate Brandon Harris was likely headed to Tallahassee, but the arch-rival Florida Gators swayed him to Gainesville, even though his brother (wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr.) was on the Seminoles' coaching staff.
Florida State is looking to its next match to coach alongside safeties coach Evan Cooper. It has not been difficult for the Seminoles to get defensive backs to the league, even when they have been struggling.
However, the recruiting efforts have to get better in a hurry, as the Seminoles have now lost nine of their 23 signees from the 2024 recruiting class and could see more leave in the coming days.