Alabama Transfers Malik Benson, TJ Ferguson Discuss Staying Together With FSU Football
The Florida State Seminoles are setting themselves up to reload in the offseason after multiple vital pieces on offense and defense departed in pursuit of the NFL. The 'Noles currently have the No. 4 transfer class in the country, including five from Alabama who decided to join Tribe24.
A pair of the group of Alabama transfers, wide receiver Malik Benson and offensive lineman TJ Ferguson, met with the media on Tuesday to discuss their role at FSU and how they have stuck together throughout the transfer process.
Benson announced his commitment to FSU on January 8. Before he committed, he said that his former teammate Earl Little, Jr., had already been at FSU and helped him make the decision. When other players on the Alabama roster entered the portal, Benson helped recruit them to Tallahassee.
"Before I committed, there was one other player, Earl, and I just asked him how he liked it. I told him I was going to come up on a visit, and then I liked it. And then I know some of my other teammates, they started getting in the portal, and they just started asking me, 'Did I like it?' and I just told them, 'Yeah, but you got to come see for yourself,'" Benson said. "But, all of us being here is just like a little brotherhood that was already formed. We bring it here, and we can bring what we know to this team, and it's going to just make the team stronger."
Ferguson and Little were the first of the five to transfer in, and it seemed to have a snowball effect. Following his commitment, linebacker Shawn Murphy, Benson, and running back Roydell Williams decided to jump on board.
"It's nice having other guys from Alabama here. Just when I came down on my visit, Earl Little was down here as well on his visit, so we kind of talked about going ahead and doing it. So we were really the first two down here and then started trying to get everybody else, just add pieces to the puzzle," Ferguson said. "And the guys that are here from Alabama, they're all great: Malik, Shawn, Earl, Roydell. Yeah, everybody's great on and off the field. That's a big thing about Florida State, is how you are off the field."
Benson said that he's been working with Oregon State transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei since he arrived in Tallahassee and sees himself as a deep threat in the offense.
"First, I would say my speed. I think just off the line, you know, I can definitely be the deep threat in this offense, and I would just say, my attacking the ball point and route running."
Both players came to Florida State with the intention of winning a national championship. Ferguson said that the opportunity the win a title is one of the reasons why he chose FSU and that he feels it is possible.
"That's another reason I chose Florida State," Ferguson said. "I want to get to the playoffs. I want to win a National Championship, and I believe this is a place that I can do it. We can do it."
Benson and Ferguson were ranked as four-star players in the NCAA Transfer Portal, with Ferguson being the country's No. 4 inside offensive lineman and Benson being the country's No. 19 wide receiver.
READ MORE: Potential Star Wide Receiver Returning To FSU Football In 2024
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