BREAKING: Seminoles Land Linebacker Transfer From Northwestern
Florida State is making one final addition to its 2023-24 roster ahead of fall camp.
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On Monday, Northwestern linebacker transfer Justin Cryer informed NoleGameday that he plans to transfer to Tallahassee. Cryer officially entered the portal last week after Wildcats head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired following the university's investigation into allegations of hazing.
The Texas native recently enrolled at Northwestern last month to kick off his college career. Instead, he'll make a swift move to Florida State with camp right around the corner.
The Seminoles were one of the first teams to contact Cryer once he hit the portal. It certainly helped that FSU was a program that recruited him out of high school as well. Linebackers coach Randy Shannon was his primary contact.
"Consistently, it's probably coach Shannon," Cryer said to NoleGameday previously. "That's probably the guy I talk to the most. He just likes how explosive how I am. Him being real honest with me, that's something I value."
Cryer also was able to begin developing a relationship with head coach Mike Norvell. The two were able to sit down for a meeting when he unofficially visited Florida State in March of 2022.
"He's great," Cryer said. "He just talked about what he values as a person and as a coach. What he sees in his players and how optimistic they are about the season. And how they only get guys who want to buy into the program and are serious about it. It was a really good conversation."
During his senior season, Cryer totaled 95 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and six sacks. He posted 103 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and five sacks during his junior campaign. Cryer was regarded as the No. 1012 overall prospect, the No. 79 LB, and the No. 171 recruit in the state of Texas in the 2023 class according to 247Sports.
Cryer joins a linebacker room that currently holds eight scholarship players; redshirt senior Kalen DeLoach, redshirt senior Tatum Bethune, redshirt junior DJ Lundy, redshirt freshman Omar Graham, true freshman Blake Nichelson, true freshman Demarco Ward, true freshman Dylan Brown-Turner, and Cryer.
Redshirt freshman Brian Courtney will be splitting duties between tight end and linebacker after his position was changed on the roster. It remains to be seen which side of the ball he fits in the best at Florida State.
The addition of Cryer provides the Seminoles with some depth at linebacker in the long run. They'll rely on the trio of DeLoach, Bethune, and Lundy to do the majority of the damage this upcoming year.
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Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the offseason
