Florida State soccer took the largest tumble from grace in 2024. Going from a New Yr’s Six bowl to 2-10 in a single 12 months and resulting in a wave of decommits for the Seminoles. Now, one beginning defender who suited up for each Seminoles groups is heading for the portal.
Omar Graham Jr. is leaving Tallahassee and inserting his identify into the NCAA switch portal, his company advised Chris Hummer of 247Sports Sunday evening. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker began for a a lot youthful ‘Noles protection in ’24.
His departure remains to be a big loss for FSU. Graham improved his private totals in ’24. He tallied 37 tackles, 4 stops behind the road of scrimmage, plus used his arms to swat down three passes.
Florida State turned to him amid drastic modifications on the defensive facet of the soccer after 2023. Graham performed in all 14 video games for the Atlantic Coast Convention champions. He managed to play on a protection that includes future first rounder Jared Verse, plus second spherical expertise Braden Fiske. Graham even began within the Orange Bowl.
The 2024 season, nevertheless, turned reasonably forgettable for Graham and the ‘Noles. FSU went from a preseason No. 10 rating to stumbling to useless final within the ACC.
The place former Florida State defender can land within the portal
Graham emerges as the primary beginning defender from FSU to bounce from Tallahassee. However he is not the lone notable departure on the defensive facet.
Adam Fuller obtained fired following the primary 10 video games as defensive coordinator. Tony White has since changed him, coming over from Nebraska. It is not identified if White’s rent had any impression on Graham leaving.
His exit remains to be a stunner for head coach Mike Norvell. He constructed his Seminoles crew off touchdown portal expertise. That features nabbing Verse (Albany) and Fiske (Western Michigan) from the switch portal earlier than their epic 13-1 marketing campaign of ’23.
Will Graham command vital consideration? Groups searching for linebacker assist doubtless will make a run on the former ACC champion.
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Indiana established itself as portal kings earlier than its epic 2024. The playoff certain Hoosiers grabbed a bevy of gamers — together with quarterback Kurtis Rourke and main cross rusher Mikail Kamara — from outdoors of Bloomington.
However there’s one other place large on siphoning portal gamers, who occur to be led by a Florida State legend. Colorado and Deion Sanders had been one other constructing its personal roster with gamers from different colleges. That does embody Sanders’ high duo of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, who got here by way of Jackson State. The Buffaloes may have the LB depth anyway. Mantrez Walker was the lone LB signing on Wednesday.
Graham, although, may grow to be satisfied to remain in-state. Florida Atlantic will want expertise now that the Owls employed Zach Kittley as head coach. Kittley is but to call a defensive coordinator, however advised reporters throughout his introductory press convention that he needs a protection that will get after the quarterback and creates turnovers. That imaginative and prescient may promote Graham.
However even staying within the ACC is not out of the query simply but. Virginia Tech may appeal to off of defensive coordinator Chris Marve. The Hokies’ DC was one of many males who recruited Graham to FSU earlier than heading to Blacksburg.