Florida State Seminoles football has really changed under head coach Mike Norvell, especially with how he’s used the transfer portal. When you look at FSU’s transfer portal classes, you can see how these new faces have shaped the team’s performance and future.
This article looks at the impact of transfer classes from 2020 to 2025. We’ll highlight the biggest contributors and a few disappointments along the way.
For a deeper dive into each transfer class, check out the full breakdown on Tomahawk Nation.
The Early Years: Building the Foundation
In Mike Norvell’s early years, FSU brought in players who could make an immediate impact and steady the program. The 2020 transfer class included:
- RB Jashaun Corbin
- OL Devontay Love-Taylor
- DL Fabian Lovett
- DB Jarrian Jones
- TE Jordan Wilson
These guys helped set the tone for what was coming. Corbin ran for 887 yards and seven touchdowns in his last year, and Love-Taylor started 16 games and picked up All-ACC Honorable Mention.
That first group had a contributor rate of 70%, which really helped Norvell’s plan take off.
2021: The Jermaine Johnson Class
The 2021 class was all about DL Jermaine Johnson. He went on to be a first-round NFL Draft pick and won ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Other key names:
- OL Dillan Gibbons
- DL Keir Thomas
- DB Jammie Robinson
- QB McKenzie Milton
Gibbons and Thomas made a difference on the field and in the locker room. Gibbons started every game in two seasons and landed first team All-ACC honors.
This group had a 58% contributor rate, showing the kind of impact high-level transfers can make.
2022: The Most Important Class
Many people see the 2022 transfer class as the one that really sparked FSU’s turnaround. With a hit rate close to 80%, this class brought in:
- RB Trey Benson
- WR Johnny Wilson
- OL D’Mitri Emmanuel
- DE Jared Verse
- LB Tatum Bethune
Benson bounced back from a knee injury and rushed for nearly 1,900 yards and 25 touchdowns in two years. Jared Verse turned into a defensive star, maybe the best transfer Norvell has signed.
2023: High Expectations and Mixed Results
The 2023 class had the highest contributor rate at 92%. Still, not everyone lived up to the hype.
Key names included:
- WR Keon Coleman
- TE Jaheim Bell
- OL Casey Roddick
- DL Braden Fiske
Coleman scored three touchdowns in his debut against LSU. Fiske and Bell both had strong seasons.
On the flip side, DB Fentrell Cypress and TE Kyle Morlock didn’t quite meet expectations.
Failures and Lessons Learned
The 2024 transfer class didn’t go as planned. With a contributor rate of just 59%, several players failed to deliver.
Some of the bigger disappointments:
- QB DJ Uiagalelei
- WR Malik Benson
- DL Marvin Jones Jr.
This group made it clear that relying too much on past relationships from prep recruiting can backfire if you ignore what players have actually done in college.
2025: Aiming for Redemption
The 2025 class tried to fix what went wrong the year before. The contributor rate is sitting at 65% so far.
This group features:
- QB Tommy Castellanos
- RB Gavin Sawchuk
- WR Duce Robinson
- OL Luke Petitbon
Robinson stands out both on and off the field. Castellanos and Sawchuk have been solid, while Petitbon and others have boosted the offensive line.
Looking Ahead
FSU keeps weaving through the ever-changing landscape of the transfer portal. Every year, the program picks up new lessons—some hard, some rewarding.
These wins and losses have left a mark on the team’s direction. They’ll definitely shape how the staff approaches recruiting going forward.
If you want to dig deeper into each transfer class and what they’ve meant for the program, check out Tomahawk Nation.
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