Florida State signed one of the top classes in the ACC coming off a 13-win season and there’s enough talent to produce several contributors this year.
Recruits: TE Landen Thomas, RB Kam Davis
Thomas and Davis are a pair of ESPN 300 signees to watch. Leading rusher Trey Benson is gone, but Davis is a top-five running back who came out this spring looking to further bolster the Seminoles’ depth. Davis was versatile enough in high school to also contribute at quarterback. He is thickly built and powerful enough to not only absorb punishment but deliver some to defenses. Thomas is a productive receiving target. He tallied more than 70 receptions his final two seasons in high school and can create yards after the catch. He can help replace Jaheim Bell’s lost production.
Transfers: RB Jaylin Lucas (Indiana), WR Malik Benson (Alabama), RB Roydell Williams (Alabama), QB DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State), edge Marvin Jones Jr. (Georgia), DB Earl Little II (Alabama)
Excluding the Seminoles from the top 10 was difficult considering their notable transfer additions, starting with Uiagalelei. He needs to replace dynamic playmaker Jordan Travis. A one-time Clemson foe, Uiagalelei’s career got off to an inconsistent and underwhelming start, but he seemed revitalized at Oregon State last season and to be on the right track following the spring. Florida State also added several transfers from an Alabama program that edged it out of the playoffs in 2023. Williams was a productive contributor with the Tide and runs with a nice blend of speed and power. Despite minimal production at Alabama, Benson ranked as the No. 1 junior college prospect in 2023 and brings good hands and elite game speed. He’s a needed big-play weapon in the passing game for a Seminoles program that lost its top three pass-catchers from 2023. On defense, Jones was a touted ESPN 300 signee with Georgia in 2022. He has yet to meet expectations, but he’s a lengthy, agile defender who could break out as a pass-rusher in Tallahassee, where his father was a star defender in the early 1990s.
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