Florida State Transfer Ranks Among PFF’s Top 10 Returning Defensive Tackles

A lot of excitement for the transfer from Western Michigan.

Following their successful 2022 campaign, the Florida State Seminoles have spent the off-season focused on acquiring and retaining some of the nation’s most talented athletes. The infusion of talent through the portal, the addition of Florida State’s most recent recruiting trail successes, and the plethora of starters electing to return have all combined to produce a roster that many are projecting to be among the best in the nation in 2023. 

Head coach Mike Norvell and his staff have repeatedly received national recognition over the course of the off-season, and a lot of that praise can be chalked up to their ability to successfully and consistently recruit the transfer portal, landing the likes of TE Kyle Morlock, DB Fentrell Cypress, OT Jeremiah Byers, TE Jaheim Bell, DT Braden Fiske, and DL Darrell Jackson to name a few. Now, many of those transfers are receiving national praise of their own as we inch closer to another college football season.

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On Tuesday, PFF analyst Max Chadwick released a list of “Top 10 returning DTs for the 2023 season.” The top 5 positions belong to Illinois DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Cincinnati DT Donate Corleone, LSU DT Mekhi Wingo, Michigan DT Kris Jenkins, and Miami DT Leonard Taylor. Among the notables on the list, and coming in at the #9 spot, is recent transfer DT Braden Fiske.

Top 10 returning DTs for the 2023 CFB season, via @Chad_Maxwick pic.twitter.com/rH0Vs5ORMW

— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 7, 2023

Fiske, a native of Michigan City, Indiana, was a four-year letterman and three-time All-Duneland Conference selection out of Michigan City High School before committing to play football at Western Michigan prior to the 2018 season. He played in 33 games with 19 starts in 5 seasons for the Broncos and accumulated a career stat-line of 148 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick. Fiske earned second-team All-MAC honors at the conclusion of a 2022 season that saw him record 58 tackles, 12.0 for loss with 6.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.

In November of 2022, Fiske announced his decision to enter the transfer portal. Fiske was ranked the 6th overall transfer portal prospect by On3 and the 14th overall prospect by 247 Sports. Florida State head coach Mike Norvell was one of the first to make contact and visit with the defensive tackle on December 8, 2022. Eight days later, Fiske took his first official visit to Tallahassee, Florida. Finally, on December 26, 2022, Fiske announced his decision to transfer to Florida State University. “It was a crazy, hectic process, but I couldn’t be happier with where I’m at now,” said Fiske.

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Come football season, Braden Fiske will have an opportunity to make an instant impact on the defensive line playing alongside the likes of Jared Verse, Fabien Lovett, Patrick Payton, and Darrell Jackson to name just a few. 

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