Florida State added twenty-three transfers this offseason for its football team. After the 2-10 record last year, the Seminoles had to hit the reset button on the roster.
With spring practices in the rearview mirror, I thought it would be appropriate to mention the five biggest additions out of the transfer portal for Florida State football this offseason.
QB THOMAS CASTELLANOS
This was an easy one. The quarterback position is one of the more talked-about responsibilities in football. Fans had to shield their eyes from the play of last season at the position. Besides quarterback Jordan Travis, head football coach Mike Norvell has not been super successful with any other signal-caller at Florida State.
The Seminoles added former Boston College transfer Thomas Castellanos, who should bring an identity to an offense that struggled to run the football in 2024. Castellanos is reunited with former UCF head football coach and now offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn in Tallahassee.
WR DUCE ROBINSON
The Seminoles went to the transfer portal to add Alabama's Malik Benson and LSU's Jalen Brown to the wide receiver position last offseason. Let's just say that it ended in a disaster, and the coaching staff will try to learn from its mistake.
They secured a HUGE (intended pun) pickup in USC 6'7" pass catcher Duce Robinson. I expect him to give Castellanos a safety plan to throw this season. Let the jump balls in the end zone commence!
OL LUKE PETITBON
Florida State's offensive unit was horrific last season. As a result, assistant coach Alex Atkins was relieved of his duties and is now at LSU. In comes Herb Hand, who has Power Four coaching experience. His first line of business was bringing in experienced transfers.
One that I'm most excited about is former Wake center transfer Luke Petitbon, who started 22 games in his career. The offensive line has dealt with injuries this spring, but Petitbon has remained consistent.
LB ELIJAH HERRING
The linebacker position was something that the fan base was watching last year since veterans Kalen DeLoach and Tatum Bethune graduated and moved on to the NFL. I am not suggesting that the position was awful last year, and it showcased flashes with Omar Graham Jr., Justin Cryer, and Blake Nichelson.
However, I always welcome adding talent to a room, and that is exactly what Florida State did with bringing in linebacker transfer Elijah Herring, who had 140 total tackles combined with Memphis and Tennessee over the past two seasons.
CB JEREMIAH WILSON
Who says that spring portal acquisitions don't matter? Let me start by saying that I love the defensive back room and the talent that it has, but they are mostly all young and have not had full-time starting responsibilities yet.
This is why I love the pickup of former Houston cornerback transfer Jeremiah Wilson, who had four interceptions in 2024. It still allows the youngsters to play, but it also gives the Seminoles a veteran option who has experience in Tony White's defense (played under Coach White while he was at Syracuse). Win-win scenario for the Seminoles in a scheme that wants to force turnovers.