During the first half of the 20-day winter transfer window, Florida State saw 25 players enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, contributing to an unprecedented wave of over 1,700 players seeking new opportunities. While many players have already secured new teams, others continue their search. Among the latest departures, former FSU defensive tackle Grady Kelly announced he is transferring to Michigan State, where he will spend his final season in the Big Ten.
Kelly joined Florida State in the previous offseason after transferring from Colorado State. In his lone season with the Seminoles, he appeared in all 12 games, contributing to the defensive line rotation with 19 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and one pass deflection. Prior to his time at FSU, Kelly had a solid career at Colorado State, where he played as a three-star recruit. Over his two seasons with the Rams (2022-2023), Kelly recorded 78 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and two pass deflections. His performance in 2022 earned him Freshman All-American honors from College Football News.
Kelly is the 17th scholarship player from Florida State to enter the portal since the conclusion of a challenging 2-10 season. Other players transferring include redshirt senior wide receiver Deuce Spann, redshirt junior tight end Jackson West, redshirt junior defensive end Byron Turner Jr., and sophomore wide receiver Destyn Hill, among others. Florida State’s roster has seen significant turnover, with several key players deciding to explore options elsewhere.
As for the defensive tackle position, FSU still has four scholarship players eligible to return for the 2025 season: redshirt junior Daniel Lyons, redshirt sophomore KJ Sampson, redshirt freshman Jamorie Flagg, and redshirt freshman D’Nas White. Additionally, the Seminoles secured commitments from four-star recruit Kevin Wynn and three-star JUCO transfer Tyeland Coleman during the Early Signing Period, further bolstering their defensive line for the future.
