The 2024 FSU football team was abysmal, largely because most of the transfer portal additions were major flops. One of the key pieces from that transfer portal class was wide receiver Malik Benson, who transferred to FSU from Alabama after going the JUCO route.
Benson, known for his blazing speed, only had 13 receptions for 162 yards and one touchdown for the Crimson Tide. He transferred to FSU and doubled his production. He had 25 receptions for 311 yards and one touchdown in 12 games for the Noles.
Benson decided to enter the transfer portal once again after one year at FSU and landed with the Oregon Ducks. Oregon made the College Football Playoffs and squared off against an overmatched James Madison squad, winning 51-34. Benson had his second 100-yard receiving game in a row, and all you saw on social media was questions about why he couldn’t play like that at FSU.
Watching Malik Benson and I’m like damn we had him At FSU
— COACH ANTONIO CROMARTIE (@CRO31) December 21, 2025
Well, he didn’t play like that at Alabama for Nick Saban either. Also, through 12 games, Benson had only six more receptions with Oregon than he did at FSU. Also, five of those receptions and a touchdown came against Montana State in the first game of the season for the Ducks.
Let’s not forget FSU had inexperienced quarterbacks and no offensive line to protect long enough to get the ball downfield. Yes, Benson is having a better year with Oregon, but it’s not like he had 68 receptions and 1,200 yards. It’s slightly better than his year at FSU, and props to him for making the best of his opportunity.
Benson's production has improved each year no matter what school he's playing for. His improvement is what it should be as a player continues to develop and gains more experience. If he had stayed at FSU, he probably could have achieved simlilar numbers to what he's had at Oregon.