Florida State Sees Five Players Enter Transfer Portal - Here's What Each Departure Means for the Seminoles
Tuesday brought a flurry of transfer portal activity for Florida State, as five players announced their intentions to move on from the program. While not every name on the list will shake up the depth chart, a couple of these exits could have a real impact on how the Seminoles look heading into 2026.
Let’s break down each departure - what it means for FSU now, and how the coaching staff might respond moving forward.
Minimal Impact
RB Kam Davis
Kam Davis came to Tallahassee with plenty of buzz - a four-star recruit and a big win on the recruiting trail at the time. But in terms of on-field production, his time at FSU never really got off the ground. He saw limited action over two seasons, and once Gus Malzahn arrived as offensive coordinator, it became clear Davis wasn’t part of the long-term vision at running back.
That vision came into sharper focus this past spring when the Seminoles added Gavin Sawchuk via the portal - a move that all but confirmed Davis was the odd man out. While the name might carry weight from his high school days, this is a departure that won’t move the needle much for the offense.
Moderate Impact
DE Jaden Jones
Jaden Jones is one of those players whose story feels like it was just getting started. A JUCO addition a few years back, Jones battled injuries early in his FSU career but finally entered 2025 healthy and ready to contribute. Internally, there was hope he’d become a key rotational piece along the defensive line.
While he did get on the field, his impact was limited - just seven total tackles on the year. Still, losing a healthy, experienced edge rusher who knows the system isn’t nothing.
Jones may not have been a game-changer, but depth matters, especially in the trenches. His departure opens up a spot in the rotation that the staff will need to address, likely through development or another portal addition.
LB Omar Graham Jr.
Graham has been a steady presence at linebacker since 2023, logging over 250 snaps during his time in Tallahassee. He’s not the most athletic linebacker on the field, but he’s a grinder - a guy who plays hard, knows the scheme, and can be counted on to do his job.
That said, his departure is one the staff can manage. He’s a replaceable piece from a pure talent standpoint, but the experience he brought to the linebacker room will be missed. Expect FSU to lean on younger players to step up in that spot or potentially explore the portal to add some veteran help.
Significant Impact
TE Randy Pittman Jr.
This one stings a bit more. Pittman followed Gus Malzahn from UCF to FSU and brought with him a deep understanding of Malzahn’s offense.
He was used all over the field - catching passes, blocking in-line, and even taking snaps in Wildcat packages. He wasn’t just a tight end; he was a chess piece.
Yes, his production dipped late in the season. There were some drops and missed assignments, but when he was locked in, Pittman gave FSU a unique offensive weapon. With no current tight end on the roster flashing the same versatility or comfort in Malzahn’s system, this becomes a key loss.
The Seminoles are bringing in two freshman tight ends and will likely hit the portal again at the position. But replacing Pittman’s combination of utility and scheme familiarity won’t be easy.
DB Ja’Bril Rawls
Of the five departures, Ja’Bril Rawls is the one that could have the biggest ripple effect.
Rawls worked his way up from under-the-radar recruit to starting cornerback in 2025 - and he didn’t just fill the role, he thrived in it. With added size and physicality, Rawls turned into a legitimate NFL prospect and one of the most consistent players in FSU’s secondary.
Now he’s one of the hottest names in the portal, with a reported NIL valuation approaching seven figures. That kind of talent - and that kind of market - speaks volumes about what he brought to the table.
For Florida State, the concern is obvious: they don’t return a single starting cornerback in 2026. Rawls’ departure leaves a major hole in the secondary, and finding someone who can step in and match his production won’t be easy. This is a spot where the Seminoles will almost certainly look to make a splash in the portal.
Final Thoughts
All told, Tuesday’s portal activity was a mixed bag for FSU. Some of the names, like Davis and Jones, are more about depth than disruption.
But losing Pittman and Rawls? That’s a different story.
Pittman’s versatility and Rawls’ emergence as a top cornerback were important pieces of Florida State’s 2025 puzzle. Replacing them won’t be as simple as plugging in the next man up - it’ll require smart moves, both in development and in the portal.
The Seminoles have been aggressive in building through transfers before, and they’ll need to be again. Because if there’s one thing Tuesday made clear, it’s that the roster reshaping for 2026 is far from over.