Former FSU Football Tight End Announces Transfer Portal Decision

Florida State's tight end room will look completely different in 2024 with Jaheim Bell (NFL), Markeston Douglas (transfer), and Preston Daniel (transfer) all moving on. The Seminoles will be relying on a mix of unproven veterans and younger players to man the position unless they go portal hunting after the spring.

Daniel was the only one of the three former members of the program to stick around through the loss against Georgia in the Orange Bowl. On Tuesday evening, he announced that he was graduate transferring to Buffalo for his final season of collegiate eligibility.

While Daniel was a consistent face in the lineup throughout the last four years, his playing time on offense diminished in 2023 with Bell, Douglas, and Kyle Morlock soaking up most of the snaps. Most of his impact came on special teams as he was limited to one catch for four yards and a touchdown during his 89 snaps over 11 appearances.

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The walk-on tight end caught his first career touchdown in Florida State's win over Louisville in 2022. Most of his production came during his first year with the program in 2020 where he hauled in two passes for 45 yards, including a 36-yard catch in the upset victory against No. 5 North Carolina. He appeared in 47 career games, with four starts, while totaling seven catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns while recording three tackles on special teams.

The Tennessee native was a member of head coach Mike Norvell's inaugural recruiting class in 2020. He was FSU's Don Powell Award winner alongside a couple of other teammates, which is presented by the Orlando Seminole Club to the Unsung Heroes. Daniel earned his degree at the conclusion of the fall semester.

The Seminoles will be relying on redshirt senior Kyle Morlock, redshirt junior Jackson West, junior Brian Courtney, redshirt sophomore Jerrale Powers, and true freshman Landen Thomas to fill the gap at tight end. Thomas was a four-star prospect and enrolled early to go through spring practice with the program.

Outside of Daniel, the Seminoles saw quarterback Tate Rodemaker (Southern Miss), quarterback AJ Duffy (San Diego State), Rodney Hill, running back CJ Campbell (FAU), wide receiver Goldie Lawrence (UCF) tight end Markeston Douglas (Arizona State), offensive lineman Thomas Shrader (Appalachian State), offensive lineman Bless Harris (TCU), offensive lineman Daughtry Richardson (FAU), offensive lineman Qae'shon Sapp (ECU), defensive end Gilber Edmond, defensive tackle Malcolm Ray (Rutgers), defensive tackle Ayobami Tifase (Georgia Tech), linebacker DJ Lundy (Colorado), linebacker Dylan Brown-Turner, and kicker Tyler Keltner (Oklahoma) enter the portal during the recent transfer window that closed on January 4.

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