Marvin Jones Jr., a junior defensive end, has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after spending just one season with the Florida State Seminoles.
Jones, a legacy player with deep ties to the program, transferred to FSU from Georgia ahead of the 2024 season. His arrival in Tallahassee
was seen as one of the key acquisitions for the Seminoles in the previous recruiting cycle. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 255 pounds, Jones played in 11 games during the
2024 season, starting nine. He recorded 25 tackles, including six tackles for loss, and four sacks. Additionally, Jones tallied three
quarterback hurries and forced one fumble, contributing significantly to FSU’s defensive efforts.
With Jones’ departure, FSU has now lost three of its four regular starting defensive linemen from last season. In addition to Jones, both of the
defensive ends who made starts as reserves have also exited the program. As of now, Patrick Payton is the only remaining defensive end on the roster with starting experience.
Before joining FSU, Jones spent two seasons at Georgia, where he appeared in 25 games and made one start. During his time with the
Bulldogs, he recorded 16 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks. In 2022, he played in 12 games, including a start in the SEC
Championship, and was also part of Georgia’s national championship-winning team as a true freshman.
A highly-ranked prospect out of American Heritage High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jones was a consensus five-star recruit. He was
rated as the No. 1 edge defender in the country, the No. 3 overall prospect from Florida, and the No. 19 prospect nationally according to 247Sports.
Jones is also the son of Marvin Jones, a 10-year NFL veteran and College Football Hall of Famer. The elder Jones, who starred at FSU, won the
Butkus Award and the Lombardi Award in 1992, finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting that year. Marvin Jones Jr. was coached in high
school by current FSU defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr. The NCAA Transfer Portal remains active, with over 3,800 players entering
during the previous cycle, and many more expected to join in the current cycle. The transfer window officially opens on December 9 and runs through December 28. Players can declare their
intentions before December 9, though they are not required to commit to a new school until the window closes.
Under head coach Mike Norvell, FSU has been among the most active teams in the Transfer Portal, experiencing both significant additions
and departures. Last cycle, the Seminoles saw 22 players leave via the portal, and a similar number of departures is expected this cycle as the program looks to rebound from its worst season since 1974.