Florida State entered the 2024 recruiting cycle riding high. After a 13-1 campaign in 2023, momentum was finally swinging back in the Seminoles' favor.
The program had landed a top-tier recruiting class-ranked 11th nationally in the 247Sports Composite-and there was a real sense that the ‘Noles were building something sustainable. A blend of homegrown talent and smart transfer portal additions gave the impression that Florida State had cracked the code on modern roster construction.
But fast forward to the end of 2025, and that optimism has taken a serious hit.
The latest blow? Redshirt freshman wide receiver Elijah Moore has officially entered the transfer portal.
A 6-foot-4, 205-pound target with big-play potential, Moore was part of a deep 2024 wide receiver group that once looked like a cornerstone for the future. Now, he becomes the latest in a string of departures that have thinned out what was once a promising class.
Moore, a four-star recruit with three years of eligibility left, made a brief on-field appearance this season, recording a 19-yard reception against Pitt. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to flash the upside that made him a coveted recruit out of high school. His decision to leave is another reminder of the volatility that comes with roster management in the transfer portal era.
And he’s not alone. Moore was one of several talented receivers brought in during that 2024 cycle, a group that included fellow four-stars Lawayne McCoy, Camdon Frier, and BJ Gibson.
Now, McCoy is the last man standing. Even Micahi Danzy-originally recruited as a running back but later converted to wide receiver-is still in the mix, but the depth chart has taken a hit that few could’ve predicted just a year ago.
Then there’s the quarterback situation. Luke Kromenhoek was the crown jewel of that 2024 class-a highly touted signal-caller who many believed would be the face of the program moving forward.
But that chapter closed quickly. Kromenhoek transferred to Mississippi State and, in a surprising twist, is already back in the portal.
His departure was a gut punch for a program looking to solidify its long-term identity under center.
So where does that leave Florida State?
The good news is that there’s still talent on the roster. Players like McCoy, Danzy, Amaree Williams, and Charles Lester III give the coaching staff a foundation to work with.
These are high-upside athletes who can be developed into key contributors, assuming they stay in Tallahassee. And that’s the challenge now-retention.
In today’s college football landscape, recruiting is only half the battle. Keeping your best players from jumping ship is just as important.
The 2024 and 2025 classes were supposed to be the backbone of Florida State’s resurgence. The raw talent is there, no doubt about it.
But the early returns-especially from the 2024 group-have been rocky. Whether it’s due to transfers, positional changes, or missed evaluations, the class hasn’t delivered the impact many expected.
That doesn’t mean all hope is lost. Players entering the portal doesn’t always mean they’re gone for good.
There’s still time for the Seminoles to stabilize things and re-establish the continuity that helped fuel their 2023 success. But it’s clear that the program is at a crossroads.
If Florida State wants to stay among the national contenders, it has to find a way to not just recruit elite talent-but keep it.