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Miami Continues to Outmaneuver Florida State in the Transfer Portal
The Miami Hurricanes ended their three-game losing streak to Florida State on the field last season. Now, head coach Mario Cristobal is carrying that momentum into the offseason, scoring major wins over Mike Norvell and the Seminoles in the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Miami has secured several high-priority transfers that Florida State was actively pursuing, with the latest being Tennessee safety Jakobe Thomas. Thomas committed to the Hurricanes on Thursday after a visit to South Florida, choosing Miami before ever making it to Tallahassee — a blow to FSU, which had hoped to host him before he made a decision.
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This one hurts for Florida State on multiple levels. The Seminoles are in need of a veteran safety, and Thomas was widely considered the top remaining option. There was even a pre-existing relationship FSU aimed to capitalize on — Rick Stockstill, now FSU’s Director of Offensive Scouting, was Thomas’s head coach at Middle Tennessee State for three seasons.
Stockstill was let go after the 2023 season, prompting Thomas to transfer to Tennessee, where he became part of a College Football Playoff team. During the 2024 campaign, he recorded 22 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 pass breakups.
Rather than don garnet and gold and reunite with Stockstill, Thomas will now suit up against Florida State when the Hurricanes head to Tallahassee in early October.
Thomas isn’t Miami’s only win over FSU in the portal this spring. The Hurricanes also landed BYU wide receiver Keelan Marion and Cincinnati wideout Tony Johnson — the latter visiting Florida State last before choosing Miami.
Florida State’s Spring Transfer Portal Additions:
- QB Jaylen King, Junior (East Tennessee State)
- OL Josh Raymond, Redshirt Freshman (Vanderbilt)
- OT Ja’Elyne Matthews, Freshman (Rutgers)
- CB Jeremiah Wilson, Senior (Houston)
Departures From FSU During the Spring Portal Window:
- QB Trever Jackson, Redshirt Freshman → Arkansas
- WR Hykeem Williams, Junior → Colorado
- WR Jordan Scott, Junior → Maryland
- WR Jalen Brown, Redshirt Sophomore → Dismissed
- OL TJ Ferguson, Redshirt Senior → Syracuse
- OL Jaylen Early, Redshirt Junior → Missouri
- DE Aaron Hester, Redshirt Junior → Liberty
- DT D’Nas White, Redshirt Freshman → In portal
- LB Timir Hickman-Collins, Redshirt Freshman → In portal
FSU’s 2025 Defensive Backfield Depth:
- Redshirt Seniors: Shyheim Brown, Jeremiah Wilson
- Redshirt Juniors: Earl Little Jr., Ashlynd Barker, Christian White
- Juniors: Conrad Hussey, Quindarrius Jones, Donny Hiebert
- Redshirt Sophomores: Edwin Joseph, KJ Kirkland, Ja’Bril Rwls
- Redshirt Freshmen: Charles Lester III, Ricky Knight III, Cai Bates, Jamari Howard
- True Freshmen: Gregory Xavier Thomas, Shamar Arnoux, Max Redmon, Antonio Cromartie Jr.
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