Where They Are Now: Checking in on every player who left Florida State Football this offseason
From the end of the 2022 regular season through when the spring transfer portal window closed on April 30, the Florida State football team saw 22 scholarship players leave the program.
At least 20 of those players have now found new homes, including five who are going to the same school — Colorado.
Here’s a breakdown of each of those 2022 departures, where those players ended up, and where they likely would have been on the Florida State depth chart had they stayed with the Seminoles this fall.
Twelve of the 20 ended up at Power 5 schools, eight are now at Group of 5 schools or lower, and two have not yet announced their new destinations.
Power 5 schools
WR Malik McClain
New School: Penn State
The Skinny: McClain was a part-time starter during each of his two seasons at Florida State and likely would have remained in a similar role in 2023. He caught 16 passes as a freshman in 2021 and then 17 in 2022.
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WR Mycah Pittman
New School: Utah
The Skinny: Pittman started 7 of 13 games during his lone season at Florida State and likely would have been a part-time starter again in 2023 if he could get healthy in time. Hip surgery during the spring made it unclear when he might be back to full speed.
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RB Treshaun Ward
New School: Kansas State
The Skinny: A former walk-on, Ward became a major part of the Florida State offense in 2021 and started 6 of 10 games in 2022. He likely would have been the Seminoles’ No. 2 back behind Trey Benson this fall.
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DT Jarrett Jackson
New School: Michigan State
The Skinny: Jackson started just two games during his two seasons at Florida State, but he played in 21 overall. The former Louisville transfer was on the Seminoles’ two-deep last fall but likely would have been pushed down to third team in 2023.
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DB Sam McCall
New School: Texas A&M
The Skinny: McCall played sparingly as a true freshman in 2022, recording just five tackles, so it’s difficult to guess where he would have ended up on the depth chart in 2023. If he found a home at safety, he might have earned a spot on the second team. But the former four-star recruit played primarily cornerback last fall, and that’s where he worked this spring with the Aggies. If he wanted to stay at corner, he might have been third team.
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DB Sidney Williams
New School: Missouri
The Skinny: A one-time starter who battled through multiple injuries, Williams worked primarily on the scout team last season. He would have had a great opportunity to grab a spot on the second team in 2023 but opted to enter the portal.
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LB Amari Gainer
New School: North Carolina
The Skinny: Former starter who didn’t seem to fit well in Adam Fuller’s 4-2-5 defensive scheme. Left looking for a system where he could play his more natural position at outside linebacker. Likely would have been second team again in 2023.
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LB Brendan Gant
New School: Colorado
The Skinny: After agreeing to make the move from safety to linebacker, worked his way onto the second-team defense in 2022 and likely would have been there again this fall. Might get opportunity to move back to safety at Colorado.
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DE Derrick McLendon
New School: Colorado
The Skinny: Starting defensive end in 2022 and might have retained that position this fall, but likely would have had to fight off challenges from talented sophomore Patrick Payton and South Carolina transfer Gilber Edmond.
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DB Omarion Cooper
New School: Colorado
The Skinny: After losing his starting cornerback job last fall, was asked to move to safety this spring and likely would have been on the second-team defense in 2023. Could have opportunity to move back to cornerback with the Buffaloes.
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DB Travis Jay
New School: Colorado
The Skinny: After being forced to sit out last season due to academics, would have had a chance to earn a spot on the second-team defense at safety in 2023. Missed the second half of spring due to injury, and there were questions about whether he would have been healthy for the start of the season this fall. Has also battled eligibility issues throughout his time in college.
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DL Bishop Thomas
New School: Colorado
The Skinny: Spent his freshman year on the scout team and likely would have been there again this fall, as Florida State beefed up its defensive tackle room with transfers. Best chance to see playing time at Florida State might have come in 2024.
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Group of 5 schools
WR Keyshawn Helton
New School: Cincinnati
The Skinny: A former part-time starter, played in only two games in 2022 while battling an apparent injury. The ailment was confirmed to be a hip injury when he arrived at Cincinnati, and it kept him out of practice there this spring. If healthy, would have competed for playing time in the Florida State rotation at slot receiver.
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OL Zane Herring
New School: USF
The Skinny: Battled injuries early in his time at Florida State and likely would have been on the third-team offensive line at guard this fall.
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OL Rod Orr
New School: Toledo
The Skinny: Had a difficult time moving up on the Florida State depth chart and likely would have been on the third-team line this fall.
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OL Lloyd Willis
New School: Marshall
The Skinny: Like Orr, had a difficult time moving up on the Florida State depth chart and likely would have been on the third-team line at tackle this fall.
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LB Stephen Dix
New School: Marshall
The Skinny: A former starter who saw his playing time decrease in 2021 and then missed all of last season due to injury. Likely would have been on the third-team defense this fall, with a chance at earning a spot on the second-team unit.
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CB Malik Feaster
New School: Memphis
The Skinny: Transferred in during preseason camp from Jacksonville State and never made an impact on the depth chart. Player sparingly in the first four games and likely would have been third-team on the depth chart in 2023.
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Other FBS/FCS schools
DT Shambre Jackson
New School: UMass
The Skinny: Highly touted prospect out of high school but was at or near the bottom of the depth chart during two seasons with the Seminoles.
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DE George Wilson
New School: Campbell
The Skinny: Undersized pass-rusher who struggled to add muscle mass during two years at Florida State. Would have had to gain substantial weight to see playing time in defensive end rotation.
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To be determined
DL Antavious Woody — Moved from offensive line to defensive line during first season on campus, but wasn’t expected to see substantial playing time in 2023. Has reported an offer from UAB on social media.
CB Demorie Tate — A one-time highly touted prospect, never could elevate past the scout team during three years at Florida State. Has not announced any news about future school.
Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.
The post Where They Are Now: Checking in on every player who left Florida State Football this offseason appeared first on On3.
