Seminoles lose one of their best and most important players in 2025 to a team who just recently won a National Championship
The Seminoles are going to miss Earl Little Jr.
The Florida State Seminoles began the 2025 season with an impressive victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide, and few players were more impactful than safety Earl Little Jr. Although the overall outcome of the 2025 season was disappointing and is one many would prefer to forget, there was notable improvement compared to 2024. Little Jr. played a significant role in this progress, bringing a winning mentality from Alabama to Florida State at a time when the Seminoles, coming off just two wins in 2024, desperately needed a cultural shift.
As the Seminoles look ahead to the 2026 season, they must contend with the departure of a player integral to their recent progress. Earl Little Jr. is transferring to the Ohio State Buckeyes, fresh off a National Championship. He is expected to fill the role vacated by Caleb Downs, who is projected to be a top-ten pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Ohio State’s interest in Little underscores his high value and reputation.
Florida State now faces the challenge of replacing Little Jr., a task that, as previously discussed regarding Cai Bates and Edwin Joseph, will not be straightforward.
What options do the Seminoles have to replace Little Jr. in 2026?
There are still a ton of options available in the transfer portal. Marcus Wimberly (Oklahoma Sooners), Brandyn Hillman (Michigan Wolverines), TJ Metcalf (Michigan), Jordan Young (Michigan, )and Bryce Anderson (Texas A&M Aggies) are among the top safeties currently available in the transfer portal. Additionally, there are several other experienced players still on the market.
Florida State’s 2026 recruiting class also includes promising safeties Darryl Bell, Jordan Crutchfield, and Daylen Green. While these players will be freshmen, it is not uncommon for first-year athletes to assume starting roles; several College Football Playoff teams this year featured true freshmen in their defensive secondaries. Teams shouldn’t bank on that heading into a season, but it’s not impossible that it happens.
The Seminoles retain several options for addressing this need.
Florida State Seminoles News
Seminoles lose one of their most underrated players to an SEC foe who also desperately needed him
The Noles will miss what Edwin Joseph Jr. brought.
