By Tony Thomas
After the biggest screw job in college football history, the Seminoles will be on the war path in 2024 with a combination of returning starters and talented players from the transfer portal. Here we profile three portal players that will make an impact for FSU this fall.
QB DJ Uiagalelei
Previous School: Oregon State Beavers
6’4”, 252 lbs.
After a one and done season with the Beavers, DJ Uiagalelei heads back to the east coast to play for Mike Norvell and the Seminoles. In 2023, Uiagalelei passed for 2,638 yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven INTs. In addition, he scored six rushing TDs. In the season opener, DJ accounted for five touchdowns in a 42-17 win over San Jose State. Against Cal, he threw five touchdown passes and no INTs in a 52-40 win.
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Over a five week stretch, Uiagalelei did not throw an INT, while throwing for 12 touchdowns. DJ will easily be the most experienced quarterback on the FSU roster, with 8,319 passing yards, 57 touchdowns, and 24 INTs with Oregon State and Clemson.
RB Roydell Williams
Previous School: Alabama Crimson Tide
5’10”, 214 lbs.
As the second-leading rusher for the Crimson Tide, Roydell Williams totaled 560 yards and five touchdowns for a team that defeated the mighty Georgia Bulldogs for the SEC title and a berth in the college football playoff. Williams rushed for 64 yards and a score in the win over Georgia. For his season-high, Williams rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown in a 17-3 win over USF.
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Williams joins FSU’s leading returning rusher in RB Lawrance Toafili, who was 2nd on the team with 463 yards rushing and four TDs last season, and is coming off an injury. Both must replace starting running back Trey Benson (906 yards, 14 TDs), who declared for the NFL Draft. Williams will be running behind an offensive line that returns three starters.
DL Sione Lolohea
Previous School: Oregon State Beavers
6’3”, 266 lbs.
As a 2nd Team All-PAC-12 selection in 2023, Sione Lolohea racked up 47 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. His season-high was 10 tackles vs UCLA. Lolohea joins returning DE Patrick Payton, who led the team in tackles for loss with 14.
Both must replace All-ACC defenders Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, who combined for 84 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks in 2023. Lolohea comes to a Seminoles defense that ranked in the Top 20 in the FBS in passing defense and scoring defense.
With the personnel losses/opt-outs suffered since before the Orange Bowl, Florida State ranks 83rd in the country in returning production (58%), according to annual rankings put out by Bill Connely of ESPN.
