Both of Florida State’s starting defensive ends from the 2024 season have decided to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

On Wednesday, redshirt junior defensive end Patrick Payton appeared in the portal, marking the conclusion of his time with the Seminoles. Payton just wrapped up his fourth season in Tallahassee in what was a disappointing campaign as he finished with fewer tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks compared to his performance in 2023.

Payton started in all 12 games for the Seminoles, totaling 35 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and four sacks. He had a season-high five tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks in the win against Cal and added five tackles and two tackles for loss in the win against Charleston Southern.

The Florida native signed with Florida State as a four-star prospect in the 2021 class. He was the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022 before a breakout campaign as a redshirt sophomore. In 2023, Payton started opposite Jared Verse, and recorded 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and ten pass deflections. He earned honorable mention All-ACC honors and was presented with FSU’s Monk Bonasorte Award.

READ MORE: FSU Defensive Tackle Withdraws From 2025 NFL Draft, Returning To Tallahassee

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive end is expected to have one season of eligibility remaining at his next stop. He flirted with entering the portal last year before returning to FSU. That doesn’t appear to be the case this time.

Payton is the 17th scholarship player from Florida State’s roster to enter the portal since the conclusion of a 2-10 season. Redshirt senior wide receiver Deuce Spann, redshirt junior tight end Jackson West, redshirt junior defensive end Byron Turner Jr, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Tomiwa Durojaiye, senior defensive back Omarion Cooper, sophomore wide receiver Destyn Hill, redshirt freshman defensive end Lamont Green Jr., redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Julian Armella, junior tight end Brian Courtney, redshirt senior wide receiver Darion Williamson, redshirt sophomore tight end Jerrale Powers, redshirt freshman linebacker DeMarco Ward, true freshman quarterback Luke Kromenhoek, junior defensive end Marvin Jones Jr., redshirt junior defensive tackle Grady Kelly, and redshirt sophomore linebacker Shawn Murphy have declared their intentions to move on.

The Seminoles have three scholarship defensive ends eligible to return in 2025; redshirt senior Jaden Jones, redshirt junior Aaron Hester, and redshirt freshman DD Holmes.

FSU signed four-star LaJesse Harrold, four-star Tylon Lee, three-star Darryll Desir, and three-star Mandrell Desir during the Early Signing Period.

Florida State also recently landed former Nebraska defensive end James Williams in the transfer portal.

READ MORE: Florida State Legacy Wide Receiver Enters NCAA Transfer Portal

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TAMPA ― Each game presents another step in the growth of Florida football freshman quarterback DJ Lagway.

When the Florida Gators face Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday at Raymond James Stadium (3:30 p.m., ESPN2), it’ll be another chance for the 6-foot-3, 239-pound Lagway to command an improving UF offense.

Call it a final exam for Lagway, who improved to 5-1 as a starter after leading the Gators to a 31-11 win over FSU to close the regular season in his last start on Nov. 30.

“We were a little rusty the last go-around, so I do think there’s another level there,” Florida football coach Billy Napier said. “But you know balance, good situational football and then obviously keep DJ clean and play well around him, we’ve got to get good play in every position around him, so, we know what winning football looks like that’s what we’re going to do.”

Lagway went 14 for 22 for 133 yards with two TDs and an interception in his last outing against the Seminoles but was victimized by a few drops on an unseasonably cold night.

“Playing quarterback is sometimes like playing golf,” Florida co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Russ Callaway said. “Every now and then you’re going to hit a bad shot, and sometimes when you move maybe your feet are not quite on balance the way they’re supposed to be.

“Yeah, we’ve done a really good job of preparing this bowl prep of pocket movement, and he already does that anyway, but it’s one of those things it wasn’t his best in that area but he’s been really good throughout the course of the year and he’s only going to continue to get better.”

Why DJ Lagway has excelled as the Florida football starting QB

From Lagway’s first career start against Samford, when he connected on six pass plays of 30 yards or more, he’s demonstrated the ability to throw deep balls with accuracy. Enrolling in January helped Lagway learn the intricacies of playing quarterback at the college level. Napier said Lagway has grown immeasurably in that area.

“He’s a more advanced player,” Napier said. “He understands, fronts, pressures, coverages, how his concept marries up to what defensive concept we’re getting, just kind of knows the problems and can kind of get ahead of that.”

Callaway said Lagway’s football IQ allowed the staff to feel comfortable expanding the playbook as the season progressed.

“He’s one of the rare guys at an early age has been hungry and has this laser-like focus and knows what he wants to accomplish,” Callaway said. “He doesn’t just talk about it, he does it.”

An example, Callaway said, is the time Lagway spends at the Heavener Center, studying film.

“You’ll go up there multiple times throughout the weekend, early in the morning, late at night, you’re not surprised to see that guy up there,” Callaway said. “That’s why he’s having success.”

How the Florida football offense can evolve under DJ Lagway

Callaway said the key is to continue to play to Lagway’s strengths. When Lagway suffered a hamstring pull against Georgia that forced him to sit out the following game against Texas, it limited his dual-threat ability for the remainder of the regular season. But with more time to heal, it’s an aspect of his game that he could either showcase against Tulane or keep under wraps for his sophomore season.

“He’s exceeded our expectations, not just from a physical standpoint but from a mental standpoint,” Callaway said. “His strengths are obviously the deep ball accuracy. He can move with his legs, he has been incredible in the pocket so we’ve got to do a good job of setting up the run, mix in movements every now and then with him and let him throw it deep when we’ve got one-on-one and hopefully our guys can come down with it.”

As to whether Florida could open up the offense with four or five-wide receiver formations with Lagway in the future, Callaway said: “It’s something we can definitely do. Again, I think it goes back to the best 11 that you’ve got, the best 11, if it’s four tight ends, if it’s four wide receivers, whoever it is it’s your job as an offensive coach to get the best 11 on the field and get the guys who make plays consistently, get them the ball.”

With All-American center Jake Slaughter and left tackle Austin Barber announcing their decisions to return to UF next season, Florida will boast an experienced offensive line with four returning starters to protect Lagway and help establish the run.

“DJ is a very good player and we’ve got veteran guys coming back,” Barber said. “He’s had a year under his belt with him growing and developing. I’m just really excited about that.”

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1

Alabama football landed a transfer portal commitment at a position of need on Tuesday. Edge rusher Kelby Collins committed to the Crimson Tide, after beginning his college career at Florida.

Collins shared the news to his social media accounts, in conjunction with Hayes Fawcett of On3.

Collins commitment means the Gardendale product will return to his home state. He considered UA out of high school in the class of 2023, but instead opted to join the Gators.

He’ll help out at a position where Alabama is currently a bit thin. Que Robinson, whose 2024 season ended prematurely due to an injury, is out of eligibility, and the Tide already lost Keanu Koht to the transfer portal, so another hand to help out in the pass rush was a key portal target.

Collins started out as an edge at Florida, making 23 total tackles with 1.5 sacks as a depth piece. His efforts in 2023 earned him freshman All-SEC honors.

However, a position switch for the 2024 season saw him buried on the Gator depth chart. Collins moved to three-technique end role, and only totaled six tackles during the 2024 season, with all of them coming against Mississippi State.

The 247Sports composite ranked Collins as a four-star portal prospect after he entered. He was a three-star recruiting out of high school at Gardendale.

Collins is listed at 6-foot-4, 278 pounds. He was 265 pounds coming out of high school.

The transfer portal is currently open for undergraduate entry until Dec. 28. Alabama players will receive an extra window following its season-ending appearance in the Dec. 31 ReliaQuest Bowl.