Florida State Loses Another Safety To The NCAA Transfer Portal
The majority of players that departed from Florida State during the spring were on the backend of the roster. With that being said, the Seminoles have lost at least two former starters in wide receiver Mycah Pittman defensive end Derrick McLendon II and a couple of rotational players like safety Omarion Cooper and linebacker Brendan Gant.
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On Saturday, the program learned that another member of the roster was entering the NCAA Transfer Portal as redshirt junior Travis Jay announced his decision to explore other options via social media.
"I am officially in the transfer portal!"
The Seminoles are suddenly beginning to grow thin in the secondary with the departures of Cooper and Jay. Florida State only has four safeties remaining on the roster at this time; redshirt senior Akeem Dent, redshirt sophomore Shyheim Brown, true freshman KJ Kirkland, and true freshman Conrad Hussey. That opens up a sizable need for depth at the position that the coaching staff will probably try to fill with a player out of the portal.
A local product out of Madison County, Jay redshirted in 2019 and was ineligible to play for Florida State in 2022. He was able to suit up for the Cheez-It Bowl victory against Oklahoma but did not record a snap during the game.
Jay appeared in 16 games, with three starts, in 2020-21 and spent most of his time as a rotational player at cornerback while contributing as a returner on special teams. He opened the 2021 season as a starter but was replaced after struggling early in the year. Jay totaled 43 tackles, three interceptions, one forced fumble, and four pass breakups during his time in Tallahassee. It's anticipated that he'll have two years of eligibility remaining at the college level.
Jay is the ninth scholarship player to depart from Florida State since the beginning of spring practice, joining defensive end Derrick McLendon II, linebacker Brendan Gant, safety Omarion Cooper, defensive lineman Bishop Thomas, defensive tackle Antavious Woody, linebacker Stephen Dix Jr, wide receiver Mycah Pittman and offensive lineman Zane Herring. The Seminoles are projected to be sitting at 80 of 85 projected scholarships following Jay's departure.
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