FSU Faces Tight End Void After Key Transfers

Retaining star WR Duce Robinson is a win, but losing versatile TE Randy Pittman leaves a hole in the offense.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:52pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented football field, with players and equipment broken down into overlapping angular shapes in shades of garnet, gold, and navy blue, conveying the complex roster changes facing Florida State's offense.FSU's offseason transfer moves leave holes in the Seminoles' tight end corps, posing challenges for their run-heavy offensive scheme.Tallahassee Today

Florida State University's offseason moves in the transfer portal have had a mixed impact on its wide receiver and tight end positions. While the Seminoles were able to retain star WR Duce Robinson and promising young talent Jayvan Boggs, they lost key contributors at tight end, including starter Randy Pittman and run-blocking specialist Markeston Douglas. The departure of Pittman, in particular, is seen as a significant loss that may be difficult to adequately replace.

Why it matters

FSU's offense under coach Gus Malzahn relies heavily on tight end versatility and run blocking, so the loss of Pittman and Douglas could hamper the Seminoles' ability to execute their preferred scheme. The wide receiver group remains strong, but the tight end position now appears to be a potential weakness that needs to be addressed.

The details

FSU managed to retain star wide receiver Duce Robinson, who had over 1,000 receiving yards last season, as well as promising young talent Jayvan Boggs. However, the Seminoles lost starting tight end Randy Pittman, who was a key cog in Malzahn's offense, to a transfer to SMU. They also saw the departure of run-blocking specialist Markeston Douglas at tight end. While FSU brought in a transfer from ECU, Riles, to potentially replace Pittman's receiving abilities, the coaching staff is concerned about the lack of an effective in-line blocker to replace Douglas' contributions in the run game.

  • Duce Robinson decided to return to FSU for the 2026 season.
  • Jayvan Boggs, who was initially in the transfer portal, ultimately chose to remain at FSU.
  • Randy Pittman, the starting tight end, entered the transfer portal and committed to SMU.
  • Markeston Douglas, the run-blocking tight end, also entered the transfer portal with his future destination unknown.

The players

Duce Robinson

A star wide receiver for FSU who had over 1,000 receiving yards last season and decided to return for another year.

Jayvan Boggs

A promising young wide receiver who initially entered the transfer portal but ultimately chose to remain at FSU.

Randy Pittman

The starting tight end for FSU, who entered the transfer portal and committed to SMU.

Markeston Douglas

The run-blocking tight end for FSU, who also entered the transfer portal with his future destination unknown.

Riles

A transfer from ECU who FSU hopes can potentially replace some of Pittman's receiving abilities at tight end.

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What they’re saying

“The loss that truly stings, and I don't believe was fully compensated for, is Randy Pittman. While he wasn't a superstar and had a few crucial drops late in the season, Pittman was a gritty, versatile player who set a tone and provided immense flexibility to the offensive scheme.”

— Author

“I had written earlier in the offseason that a 'blocking tight end is probably a must,' and I strongly believe FSU missed an opportunity here. With the significant emphasis FSU plans to place on running the ball, this void is hard to ignore.”

— Author

What’s next

FSU will need to find a way to effectively replace the blocking and versatility that Pittman and Douglas provided at the tight end position, either through further portal additions or by developing the current roster, in order to maintain the effectiveness of their run-heavy offense under Gus Malzahn.

The takeaway

While retaining star wide receiver Duce Robinson is a major win for FSU, the loss of versatile tight end Randy Pittman and run-blocking specialist Markeston Douglas leaves a significant void in the Seminoles' offense. Addressing this tight end need will be crucial for FSU to continue executing Gus Malzahn's preferred offensive scheme in 2026.