Florida State football has been searching for answers-and stability-for the better part of the past six years. Aside from a headline-grabbing win over Alabama to open the season, the Seminoles have struggled to shake off inconsistency. Under Mike Norvell, the program has endured four losing seasons in six years, a far cry from the standard set by Bobby Bowden’s powerhouse teams of the past.
But in today’s college football landscape, the transfer portal offers a lifeline. And Florida State is diving in headfirst.
The Seminoles pulled in 22 players during the latest transfer window, and that number could still climb. While January 16 marked the deadline for undergraduates to enter the portal, players don’t have to commit by that date. That gives Florida State some room to maneuver-and they’re clearly not done building.
Norvell and his staff have gone all-in on the portal, pouring time, energy, and resources into reshaping the roster. That level of commitment is necessary when you're trying to rebuild a program that’s won just seven games over the past two seasons. But it also means Florida State has had to be aggressive-sometimes even overextending-to land the kind of talent that can turn things around quickly.
Quarterback Carousel: Lagway, Daniels, and What Could’ve Been
One of the most talked-about positions during this portal cycle for Florida State has been quarterback. The Seminoles hosted several high-profile signal-callers during the window, including UNLV’s Anthony Colandrea, Florida’s DJ Lagway, and Auburn’s Ashton Daniels. All three are considered starting-caliber options, and for the third straight year, Florida State looked to the portal to find its next quarterback.
In the end, Colandrea chose Nebraska. Lagway committed to Baylor.
And Daniels? He’s the one who ended up in Tallahassee.
Lagway’s recruitment was particularly interesting-and polarizing. A former five-star prospect, he hasn’t quite lived up to the early hype, and his fit in Gus Malzahn’s system raised eyebrows.
Still, when Lagway visited Florida State, there was buzz. Malzahn even compared him to Cam Newton during the visit, and Lagway described the experience as being on “Cloud 9.”
That quote set off a wave of speculation that he might be headed to Florida State.
But Lagway ultimately chose to commit to Baylor-a move that made sense, given his Texas roots and family ties to the program (his father, Derek, played there). However, it’s important to note: he committed, but hasn’t signed. That leaves the door cracked open.
Duke in the Mix, Again
With Duke’s Darian Mensah reportedly on his way to Miami, the ACC champs are suddenly in the market for a quarterback. According to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, DJ Lagway is now on Duke’s radar as a potential replacement for Mensah. That’s a major shift in the quarterback landscape, and it could have ripple effects across the conference.
Lagway heading to Durham would be a fascinating twist. He’s already been linked to multiple programs this cycle, and his recruitment has become a microcosm of the chaotic, fast-moving world of modern college football.
Portal Era = Free Agency Vibes
Let’s not sugarcoat it: college football is starting to feel a lot like NFL free agency. Players are moving more freely than ever before, and teams are constantly reshuffling rosters in search of the right mix. It’s exciting, yes-but also unpredictable, and sometimes frustrating for programs trying to build continuity.
Florida State won’t face Duke in the regular season this year-unless both teams meet in the ACC title game-but the Seminoles will go up against their archrival, Miami. And with the Hurricanes landing Mensah, one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the portal, that matchup just got a lot more intriguing.
For Florida State, the challenge is clear: keep building, keep developing, and find a way to translate portal wins into on-field results. The pieces are starting to come together. Now it’s about turning potential into production.