Nehemiah Chandler Comes Home: Florida State Lands a Promising Defensive Back with a Point to Prove
Nehemiah Chandler didn’t hesitate when Florida State came calling. The moment the Seminoles reached out, the decision was made.
No weighing options, no drawn-out process. Just a kid from Wakulla fulfilling the dream he’s carried since childhood: suiting up in garnet and gold.
After a one-year stop at South Alabama, Chandler is headed back to Tallahassee as a redshirt sophomore - and he’s bringing both momentum and motivation with him. The former Wakulla High standout made waves in the Sun Belt last season, and now he’s ready to make his mark at Doak Campbell Stadium.
“It was really just a dream come true,” Chandler said. “As soon as they jumped in the hot seat, I was like, ‘Just shut it down.’
That’s where I want to be. I felt at home.”
This isn’t just a feel-good homecoming story. It’s about a player who believes he can help restore Florida State’s legacy as DBU - a moniker the program once wore with pride thanks to names like Deion Sanders, Xavier Rhodes, and Jalen Ramsey. And it’s Ramsey, in particular, who lit the fire for Chandler.
Growing up in Jacksonville, Chandler watched Ramsey dominate with the Jaguars. It wasn’t until later that he realized Ramsey’s journey started in Tallahassee.
“I looked up to Jalen Ramsey. He played in Jacksonville, and I’m from Jacksonville,” Chandler said.
“As a kid, I watched him go crazy with the Jags. I didn’t even know he played at FSU until I came here and saw it.
I was like, ‘What? That’s crazy.’”
A Winding Road to Tallahassee
Chandler’s path to Florida State wasn’t the straight line most recruits dream of. It started at Georgia Tech, where he redshirted and felt overlooked. So he bet on himself, entered the transfer portal, and landed at South Alabama - a move that proved to be the turning point.
Last season, Chandler led the Sun Belt Conference with 13 pass breakups, ranking second nationally. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed. By the time he re-entered the portal, he was one of the top defensive backs available.
“I felt like the underdog,” Chandler said. “I had to prove myself.
I felt like I got shorted at my old school, but I exceeded some of the standards I set for myself. I just kept pushing past the bar.”
That underdog mentality? It’s been there since Wakulla.
Chandler didn’t burst onto the recruiting scene early. He had one standout season in high school - a year where he played both ways and helped lead the War Eagles to an undefeated regular season. That single campaign was enough to put him on the radar, but he always felt like he was playing catch-up.
“I felt like I jumped on the radar real late,” Chandler said. “I had one good year, while other kids were doing it for years.
But that’s my testimony. I feel like I had to go through those things to get where I’m at now.”
Built for the Climb
Ask anyone who’s worked with Chandler, and they’ll tell you the same thing: he’s a grinder.
Barry Klees, Chandler’s former coach at Wakulla, saw it firsthand. He describes Chandler as a football junkie - someone who’s constantly studying, constantly working, and constantly trying to get better.
“He was special,” Klees said. “He was part of a special group that came together, and he was a leader. He has a real desire to win."
That mindset, Klees believes, will translate seamlessly to the next level.
“The biggest thing about Nehemiah is he wants to win and he’ll do the little things. He puts in the work so his team can be successful.
His work has paid off. Now he’s at Florida State, back home.”
Eyes on the Legacy
For Chandler, this isn’t just about playing for the team he grew up watching. It’s about contributing to a bigger mission - helping Florida State reclaim its identity as a defensive powerhouse.
He’s not walking into a rebuild. He’s joining a program that’s been trending upward, and he’s bringing a skillset that fits right in with the Seminoles’ aggressive, fast-paced defensive scheme. With his length, speed, and ball skills, Chandler has the tools to compete in a deep secondary - and the mindset to push for more.
He’s already proven he can rise to the occasion. Now, he gets to do it on the stage he always dreamed of.
From underrecruited to undeniable, Nehemiah Chandler’s journey has been anything but conventional. But now, with a fresh start and a Seminole helmet in hand, he’s exactly where he wants to be. And don’t be surprised if he makes the most of it.