Report: Florida State Starting Quarterback Entering NCAA Transfer Portal, Sitting Out Of Orange Bowl

The Seminoles continue to see key players depart from the program leading up to the bowl game.

There's never a dull moment at this time of year - even on Christmas Day. With the NCAA Transfer Portal window smack dab in the middle of college football bowl season and the Early Signing Period, all sorts of surprise moves have been expedited by the calendar.

On Monday afternoon, news broke that the Seminoles will be without yet another important player in the Orange Bowl. According to 247Sports's Matt Zenitz, Florida State starting quarterback Tate Rodemaker plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and he won't play against the Bulldogs.

This is obviously a big blow to the program as Rodemaker stepped into the starting role after star signal-caller Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending injury. Rodemaker ended up making one start before dealing with an injury of his own - a concussion - late in FSU's win over Florida. He was forced to sit out of the ACC Championship victory but was back practicing and preparing for the postseason over the past few weeks.

Florida State To Be Without At Least 14 Players In Orange Bowl Due To Opt-Outs And Transfers

Rodemaker completed 12/25 passes for 134 yards to guide the Seminoles to a second consecutive victory over the Gators. A week prior, he had a career night while taking over for Travis, completing 13/23 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions. On the season, he completed 57.1% of his passes for 510 yards and five touchdowns with zero interceptions.

The Georgia native was Mike Norvell's first commitment when he arrived at Florida State. He spent most of his time in Tallahassee as a backup but started at various points of his career, including twice in the last two seasons. Rodemaker concludes his time with the Seminoles by completing 68/118 passes for 901 yards with seven touchdowns to five interceptions in 22 games, with three starts.

The move leaves the Seminoles with true freshman Brock Glenn as the only scholarship quarterback on the roster ahead of the bowl game. Redshirt freshman AJ Duffy previously entered the portal and announced his transfer to San Diego State. Glenn made his lone career start in the conference championship win, completing 8/21 passes for 55 yards.

Florida State also has a pair of walk-on quarterbacks on the roster; redshirt freshman Dylan McNamara and true freshman Michael Grant. McNamara dressed during the Seminoles' last game in Charlotte.

The team has publicly been active with multiple quarterbacks in the transfer portal. The coaching staff even brought in former Washington State star Cameron Ward and former Oregon State star DJ Uiagalelei for official visits earlier this month. Neither player has yet to make a decision but Florida State remains firmly in the hunt.

Outside of Rodemaker, the Seminoles have seen quarterback AJ Duffy (San Diego State), running back Rodney Hill (FAMU), running back CJ Campbell (FAU), tight end Markeston Douglas (Arizona State), tight end Preston Daniel, offensive lineman Bless Harris (TCU), offensive lineman Thomas Schrader, offensive lineman Daughtry Richardson (FAU), offensive lineman Qae'shon Sapp (FAMU), defensive tackle Malcolm Ray, defensive tackle Ayobami Tifase, linebacker DJ Lundy (Colorado), linebacker Dylan Brown-Turner, and kicker Tyler Keltner enter the portal.

Star defensive end Patrick Payton previously declared his intentions to do so but removed the references on social media and never officially appeared in the database.

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