A chaotic transfer portal situation involving Florida State and another ACC program is reportedly ending in favor of the Seminoles.
The subject of the drama, tight end Markeston Douglas, entered the transfer portal over the weekend for the second time since Dec. 9.
Douglas had previously spent the 2024 season at Arizona State after playing his first three seasons under head coach Mike Norvell and the Seminoles.
The Brownsville, Tennessee, native had played just one season of football at Haywood High School before signing with FSU as a three-star recruit in the class of 2020.
Douglas went on to total 25 receptions for 326 yards with four touchdowns in 30 games as a Seminole, primarily serving as an in-line blocker at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds.
After joining the Sun Devils for the 2024 season, Douglas appeared all 14 games during Arizona State’s Big 12 championship season and College Football Playoff run, catching one pass for three yards in his lone start against Mississippi State.
Douglas went on to re-sign with FSU on Dec. 12 and participated in spring practice before, once again, entering the portal.
That’s where the drama reached another level. Douglas was reportedly in talks with Power Four programs and scheduled a visit with North Carolina and new head coach Bill Belichick before working with the FSU staff and ultimately deciding to return, per a report from 247Sports on Tuesday.
And a Florida State spokesperson added another twist into the situation by revealing that Douglas was never technically in the transfer portal to begin with.
All things considered, the Seminoles’ efforts in keeping Douglas despite the transfer portal chaos likely points to the need at the position entering the 2025 season.
FSU lost three tight ends to transfer in the 2025 cycle, including Jerrale Powers (Stephen F. Austin), Brian Courtney (Tennessee Tech) and Jackson West (Western Kentucky).
Along with managing to keep Douglas for his final season, Norvell and Co. also responded to the attrition at tight end by adding UCF transfer Randy Pittman Jr. and four-star signee Chase Loftin.
Florida State will look much different next season after losing 33 transfers and adding 17 of their own. Additionally, the program will feature new coordinators on both sides of the ball, as Gus Malzahn takes over the offense while Tony White takes the helm of the defense.
It’s difficult to project how the Seminoles will fair next season given the number of major changes. But it appears that Norvell is aware of the pressure on his shoulders after a disastrous 2-10 season following an ACC championship year in 2023.
FSU will open the 2025 season at home against Alabama on Aug. 30.
Related: Miami To Host 1,300-Yard WR After Adding Another Target For Carson Beck on Tuesday
Related: Kirby Smart Makes Major Change To Georgia’s Coaching Staff
Related: James Franklin’s Behavior Toward Fan During Penn State’s Spring Game is Turning Heads
A chaotic transfer portal situation involving Florida State and another ACC program is reportedly ending in favor of the Seminoles.
The subject of the drama, tight end Markeston Douglas, entered the transfer portal over the weekend for the second time since Dec. 9.
Douglas had previously spent the 2024 season at Arizona State after playing his first three seasons under head coach Mike Norvell and the Seminoles.
The Brownsville, Tennessee, native had played just one season of football at Haywood High School before signing with FSU as a three-star recruit in the class of 2020.
Douglas went on to total 25 receptions for 326 yards with four touchdowns in 30 games as a Seminole, primarily serving as an in-line blocker at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds.
After joining the Sun Devils for the 2024 season, Douglas appeared all 14 games during Arizona State’s Big 12 championship season and College Football Playoff run, catching one pass for three yards in his lone start against Mississippi State.
Douglas went on to re-sign with FSU on Dec. 12 and participated in spring practice before, once again, entering the portal.
That’s where the drama reached another level. Douglas was reportedly in talks with Power Four programs and scheduled a visit with North Carolina and new head coach Bill Belichick before working with the FSU staff and ultimately deciding to return, per a report from 247Sports on Tuesday.
And a Florida State spokesperson added another twist into the situation by revealing that Douglas was never technically in the transfer portal to begin with.
All things considered, the Seminoles’ efforts in keeping Douglas despite the transfer portal chaos likely points to the need at the position entering the 2025 season.
FSU lost three tight ends to transfer in the 2025 cycle, including Jerrale Powers (Stephen F. Austin), Brian Courtney (Tennessee Tech) and Jackson West (Western Kentucky).
Along with managing to keep Douglas for his final season, Norvell and Co. also responded to the attrition at tight end by adding UCF transfer Randy Pittman Jr. and four-star signee Chase Loftin.
Florida State will look much different next season after losing 33 transfers and adding 17 of their own. Additionally, the program will feature new coordinators on both sides of the ball, as Gus Malzahn takes over the offense while Tony White takes the helm of the defense.
It’s difficult to project how the Seminoles will fair next season given the number of major changes. But it appears that Norvell is aware of the pressure on his shoulders after a disastrous 2-10 season following an ACC championship year in 2023.
FSU will open the 2025 season at home against Alabama on Aug. 30.
Related: Miami To Host 1,300-Yard WR After Adding Another Target For Carson Beck on Tuesday
Related: Kirby Smart Makes Major Change To Georgia’s Coaching Staff
Related: James Franklin’s Behavior Toward Fan During Penn State’s Spring Game is Turning Heads
