FSU Football's Transfer Class Gets No Love From ESPN

The Seminoles' 2026 transfer haul was named an honorable mention by ESPN's Bill Connelly, despite bringing in 23 new players.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:27pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a college football game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, geometric shapes in the colors of the Florida State Seminoles' uniforms.ESPN's ranking of Florida State's 2026 transfer class as an honorable mention highlights the Seminoles' continued reliance on the portal to rebuild their roster.Tallahassee Today

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell has built a reputation as the 'transfer king' for his ability to identify and develop under-the-radar players from the NCAA Transfer Portal. However, ESPN's recent rankings of the top 2026 transfer classes did not include the Seminoles' 23-player haul, instead giving them an honorable mention alongside several other programs.

Why it matters

Florida State's success in recent years has been heavily dependent on their ability to reload through the transfer portal, with players like Jermaine Johnson II and Jared Verse becoming first-round NFL Draft picks after joining the Seminoles. The 2026 transfer class will be crucial as the team looks to climb back into national relevance after a couple of down seasons.

The details

ESPN's Bill Connelly recently released his top 20 transfer class rankings for 2026, with Florida State receiving an honorable mention alongside several other programs. The Seminoles brought in 23 transfers this offseason, including players like linebacker Chris Jones, cornerback Nehemiah Chandler, and quarterback Ashton Daniels. While the group didn't crack the top 20, Connelly noted that it still brings a blend of experience and upside that could outperform its preseason billing.

  • Florida State head coach Mike Norvell has been widely regarded as the 'transfer king' during his tenure.
  • The Seminoles brought in 23 transfers this past offseason, giving them the No. 27 transfer haul per 247Sports.

The players

Mike Norvell

The head coach of the Florida State Seminoles, known for his ability to identify and develop talent from the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Chris Jones

A linebacker transfer from Southern Miss who is described as a 'tackling machine' by ESPN's Bill Connelly.

Nehemiah Chandler

A cornerback transfer from South Alabama who was one of the best freshmen in the FBS in 2025.

Ashton Daniels

A quarterback transfer from Auburn who is expected to be an upgrade for the Seminoles.

Jermaine Johnson II

A former transfer who became a first-round NFL Draft pick after playing for Florida State.

Jared Verse

Another former transfer who became a first-round NFL Draft pick after playing for the Seminoles.

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What they’re saying

“Linebacker Chris Jones (Southern Miss) is a tackling machine, corner Nehemiah Chandler (South Alabama) was one of the FBS's best freshmen, QB Ashton Daniels (Auburn) is an upgrade, and Mike Norvell landed four O-linemen who started all of 2025.”

— Bill Connelly, ESPN Writer

What’s next

The Seminoles will be counting on their 2026 transfer class to become difference-makers this fall as they look to climb back into the national spotlight.

The takeaway

Florida State's success in recent years has been heavily dependent on their ability to reload through the transfer portal, and the 2026 class will be crucial as the team looks to bounce back from a couple of down seasons. While the group didn't crack ESPN's top 20 rankings, it still brings a blend of experience and upside that could outperform its preseason billing.