Have the Seminoles put together a strong start in the portal? Let's dive in.
Florida State joins every Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) university in rebuilding its roster through the transfer portal.
FSU has landed some names on the trail. But is it enough to galvanize a championship starving fan base?
Time to roll out what we're calling "Five Roundtable Takeaways," focusing our attention on what Mike Norvell and company are doing before the portal closes on Jan. 16.
1 -- Florida State saved itself from a DJ Lagway Headache
This isn't hyperbole. But here's why FSU really prevents the "headache."
Just imagine the media uproar in seeing a Florida star land with a rival. This is worse than a Gator talent landing at Georgia or heck, Miami. In the Sunshine State you have a hard time liking FSU if you're in Gainesville. It's literally who's side are you on.
Lagway, meanwhile, is an immense talent. But Gator fans didn't know what version of him they were getting each week. FSU was risking adding a turnover prone QB who also had questionable results in big games.
2 -- FSU, however, whiffed here
Multiple rumblings around Anthony Colandrea is that FSU couldn't lock in the NIL deal he was seeking.
Colandrea came with a winning resume via UNLV, even though the Rebels are a non Power Conference program. He also tallied 4,108 total yards with 33 touchdowns for a team that went 10-4 overall.
Colandrea stays in red -- but it's "Go Big Red" with Nebraska.
3 -- Ashton Daniels doesn't feel like a championship addition
The former Stanford and Auburn QB has potential. He brings the athleticism that offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn covets.
But I say this as someone who covered him at Palo Alto during my 247Sports run: Daniels isn't a flashy player.
He struggled in Hugh Freeze's offense and adjusting to the SEC rigors. Again, Daniels brings potential. But he's under pressure to perform better than Tommy Castellanos. Bringing a 5-17 overall record as a starter in tow doesn't exactly generate buzz. FSU needs one more QB here.
4 -- The most underrated portal addition is...
Yes, he's taking a big jump from South Alabama. But I'm glued to the 6-foot-2 height and his rapid fire feet. He also fearlessly attacks traffic to destroy screen passes or outside runs.
Florida State's secondary needs a disruptor in the secondary. Chandler looks to be it.
5 -- The best portal addition is...
Yes, he endured a truncated 2025 season. But fans forget how valuable he was for both Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning at Texas. Especially on check down throws.
Wisner brings a 1,000-yard past over to Tallahassee. He's getting the ball and can create energy inside Doak S. Campbell Stadium.
Join the Community! Don't miss out on our NOLES ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our RoundTable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!