The 2025 college football season is officially in the books, and for Florida State, it’s one they'd probably rather not revisit. While the rest of the nation watched Indiana celebrate a national title, the Seminoles were left on the outside looking in-again.
Another sub-.500 finish, another season of unmet expectations in Tallahassee. And while there were moments that hinted at promise, they were too often followed by head-scratching losses, missed opportunities, and the kind of inconsistency that’s plagued the program in recent years.
In today’s college football landscape, where the transfer portal can flip a roster overnight, Florida State has been both a beneficiary and a victim. They've added talent through the portal in recent years, but the exits have started to outweigh the arrivals.
This past offseason alone, 35 players left the program via the portal. That’s two more than the 33 who departed the previous year.
That kind of turnover doesn’t just sting-it reshapes your depth chart, your locker room, and your season.
Let’s take a closer look at the players who left Tallahassee in 2025 and how they fared at their new homes. The big question: did Florida State let any real difference-makers slip away?
Offense
Quarterbacks
Luke Kromenhoek (Mississippi State)
Kromenhoek was the headline name when he left FSU, but his impact in Starkville was minimal.
He played in just two games, threw for 73 yards, and added a rushing touchdown. For all the buzz surrounding his departure, it didn’t translate into production.
Trever Jackson (Arkansas)
Jackson had social media buzzing when he transferred, but on the field, he was barely a blip.
One game, one pass attempt, and now he’s on the move again-this time to Coastal Carolina. A non-factor in the 2025 season.
Wide Receivers
Malik Benson (Oregon)
Now here’s a name that might sting a bit.
Benson carved out a legitimate role with the Ducks, appearing in all 13 games and starting seven. He racked up 719 receiving yards, scored seven touchdowns, and even housed a punt return.
That kind of production, paired with his versatility, could’ve been a real asset in Tallahassee-especially in the return game.
Jalen Brown (Arkansas)
Brown was off to a decent start before a leg injury ended his season after five games. He still managed 167 receiving yards and two touchdowns, but it was a short-lived campaign.
Deuce Spann (Pittsburgh)
Spann saw the field in 12 games for the Panthers, starting once.
He finished with 142 receiving yards and two touchdowns-one receiving, one rushing. Solid depth, but not a game-changer.
Hykeem Williams (Colorado)
Williams, once a five-star prospect, struggled to find his footing in Boulder.
He played in six games, started four, and totaled just 81 receiving yards. A tough year for a player with high expectations.
Destyn Hill (LSU)
Hill returned home to Louisiana but didn’t find much success. He had 22 receiving yards across seven games (three starts) and is now transferring again, this time to Tulane.
Darion Williamson (Maryland)
Williamson played in four games but didn’t record a stat.
Tight Ends
Brian Courtney (Tennessee Tech)
Courtney finally found his rhythm at Tennessee Tech.
He started all 13 games, hauled in 376 receiving yards, scored five touchdowns, and even added a rushing score. Yes, the level of competition was a step down, but you can’t ignore that kind of production.
Jackson West (Western Kentucky)
West played in 12 games, starting three.
He scored once and posted 80 receiving yards. Decent usage, but limited impact.
Jeralle Powers (Stephen F. Austin)
Powers didn’t appear in any games.
Offensive Line
TJ Ferguson (Syracuse)
Ferguson logged 11 games and nine starts for the Orange, earning a 65.5 blocking grade. A steady presence, if not a standout.
Julian Armella (UCLA)
The FSU legacy played in nine games and started four. His 54.4 blocking grade suggests he struggled to find consistency.
Jaylen Early (Missouri)
Early saw limited action-just three games-but posted a respectable 65.1 blocking grade when on the field.
Offensive Verdict:
Malik Benson is the clear standout.
His production at Oregon-both as a receiver and returner-makes you wonder what could’ve been if he’d stayed. Courtney’s numbers jump off the page, but the drop in competition has to be considered.
Ferguson held his own at Syracuse, but his performance won’t have Seminole fans losing sleep. Bottom line: Benson’s the one offensive departure who could’ve made a real difference in Tallahassee.
Defense
Defensive Line
Patrick Payton (LSU)
Payton’s exit left a mark, and his production at LSU shows why.
He started 12 games, recorded 34 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery. He was a steady force up front-exactly what FSU could’ve used.
Marvin Jones Jr. (Oklahoma)
Another legacy who moved on. Jones played in 13 games (nine starts) and flashed his potential with 20 tackles, two sacks, and a pass deflection.
Not dominant, but definitely disruptive.
Tomiwa Durojaiye (Illinois)
Durojaiye played in 11 games, starting three.
He posted 16 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. A rotational contributor who made his presence felt.
Grady Kelly (Michigan State)
Kelly saw action in 11 games, started five, and totaled 25 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, and two pass deflections. Solid numbers for a player who could’ve added depth in FSU’s front seven.
Byron Turner Jr. (Tulsa)
Turner made an impact at Tulsa with 4.5 sacks across 10 games (seven starts). He also chipped in 14 tackles, a fumble recovery, and a pass deflection.
Aaron Hester (Liberty)
Hester started nine games for Liberty and recorded 10 tackles and a pass deflection. Not flashy, but a consistent presence.
Dante Anderson (FIU)
Anderson brought energy to FIU’s defense with 14 tackles, three sacks, and three forced fumbles across 12 games. That kind of playmaking could’ve been useful in Tallahassee.
DD Holmes (Maryland)
Holmes appeared in nine games, starting once, and recorded nine tackles.
D’Nas White (Catawba College)
White played in six games, picking up 10 tackles, a pass deflection, and a tackle for loss.
Lamont Green Jr. (FIU)
Green played in just two games, recording three tackles.
Linebackers
DeMarco Ward (Memphis)
Ward had a breakout year.
He started nine games, racked up 63 tackles, forced a fumble, and returned two interceptions for touchdowns. That’s the kind of production FSU desperately needed at linebacker this year.
Shawn Murphy (South Carolina)
Murphy played in all 12 games and started four.
He totaled 49 tackles and added a pass deflection. A reliable contributor who could’ve added depth.
Timir Hickman-Collins (North Carolina)
Hickman-Collins saw limited action, recording 10 tackles in six games.
Cornerback
Omarion Cooper (Memphis)
Cooper made the most of his new opportunity, starting 12 games and earning second-team all-conference honors.
He tallied 39 tackles, forced a fumble, and snagged an interception. A strong season that suggests he had more to give in garnet and gold.
Defensive Verdict:
There’s no question that Payton and Marvin Jones Jr. could’ve helped solidify FSU’s defensive front.
Durojaiye and Kelly also proved capable of contributing meaningful snaps. At linebacker, Ward’s breakout year jumps off the page-he would’ve been a major upgrade for a unit that struggled.
And Cooper’s all-conference nod at cornerback? That’s the kind of lockdown presence FSU could’ve used.
Final Takeaway
In a season where Florida State needed more consistency and playmaking, some of their former players delivered just that-only in different uniforms. Malik Benson’s breakout year at Oregon stands out on offense, while Ward, Payton, and Cooper all made compelling cases on defense.
The portal era giveth and taketh away. For the Seminoles, the 2025 season was a reminder that who you lose can matter just as much as who you bring in.