Former Florida State Tight End Continuing College Career At Arizona State
The NCAA Transfer Portal has been open for nearly a week and Florida State has already had ten players depart from the program.
One former Seminole is wasting zero time finding his next stop. According to his social media, redshirt junior tight end Markeston Douglas has committed to Arizona State while in Tempe for an official visit. He's expected to have two years of eligibility remaining to utilize with the Sun Devils.
Douglas re-joins former Florida State offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, who is the head coach at Arizona State. He played under Dillingham from 2020-21 and that connection seemed to benefit the Sun Devils in this recruitment. Former FSU offensive lineman Devontay Love-Taylor, who suited up alongside Douglas for two years, is now a recruiting specialist with the program after being hired by Dillingham earlier this year.
This is a tough loss for the Seminoles as Douglas developed into a fan favorite in Tallahassee while also being a crucial part of the rotation. He appeared in 26 games over the last two seasons, catching 25 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Douglas caught the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl as FSU pulled off a double-digit comeback. He pulled off a 42-yard catch and ran for a score in the home opener against Southern Miss this year.
With that being said, Florida State brought in Jaheim Bell and Kyle Morlock from the transfer portal over the offseason. They soaked up the majority of playing time as both transfers were on the field for more than 450 snaps while Douglas was limited to 210 snaps despite appearing in every game.
Arizona State should be able to offer Douglas the starting role and consistent playing time that he is searching for to showcase his ability. The Sun Devils are replacing their top three tight ends from the 2023 season, including Jalin Conyers, the team's second-leading receiver. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound tight end will be able to step in with some familiarity in Dillingham's offense.
The Sun Devils are joining the Big 12 next season alongside Arizona and Utah. The conference added UCF, Cincinnati, BYU, and Houston this past season in an effort to offset Texas and Oklahoma's upcoming move to the SEC.
Outside of Douglas, Florida State has also seen quarterback AJ Duffy, running back CJ Campbell, tight end Preston Daniel, offensive lineman Bless Harris, offensive lineman Thomas Schrader, offensive lineman Daughtry Richardson, offensive lineman Qae'shon Sapp, defensive tackle Ayobami Tifase, and linebacker Dylan Brown-Turner enter the portal.
READ MORE: Lane Kiffin, Head Coach Of SEC Team, Comments On FSU's Exclusion From CFP
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