Tracking FSU football, Georgia opt-outs ahead of Orange Bowl matchup

After both teams narrowly missed the College Football Playoff, Florida State and Georgia have had multiple transfers and opt-outs heading into their Dec. 30 matchup in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium.

Nine FSU players have declared for the NFL draft and two injured Georgia players have opted out. Altogether, both teams have seen a combined 37 players enter the NCAA transfer portal, which opened on Dec. 4 and closes Jan 2. It has gone down from 45 days to 30 days this year.

Here are which FSU and Georgia players have opted out of the Orange Bowl.

Florida State opt-outs (healthy)

All of FSU’s healthy opt-outs have declared for the NFL Draft.

• Trey Benson, RB, Jr.
• Jared Verse, DE, Jr.
• Johnny Wilson, WR, Jr.
• Keon Coleman, WR, Jr.
• Jaheim Bell, TE, Jr.
• Fabian Lovett, DL, R-Sr.
• Akeem Dent, DB, Sr.
• Renardo Green, DB, Sr.
• Jarrian Jones, DB, Sr.

Florida State injured players

Florida State transfers out

• CJ Campbell, RB, Redshirt sophomore (Florida Atlantic)
• Preston Daniel, TE, Redshirt junior
• Dylan Brown-Turner, LB, Freshman
• Markeston Douglas, TE, Redshirt Junior (Arizona State)
• AJ Duffy, QB, Redshirt freshman (San Diego State)
• Bless Harris, OL, Redshirt senior (TCU)
• Rodney Hill, RB, Redshirt freshman (Florida A&M)
• Tyler Keltner, K, Redshirt senior
• DJ Lundy, LB, Redshirt junior (Colorado)
• Malcolm Ray, DT, Redshirt junior
• Daughtry Richardson, OL, Freshman (Florida Atlantic)
• Qae’shon Sapp, OL, Freshman (Louisiana Monroe)
• Thomas Shrader, OL, Redshirt junior
• Ayobami Tifase, DL, Redshirt freshman
• Tate Rodemaker, QB, Redshirt junior
• Dwayne Wells, CB, Senior

Georgia opt-outs (healthy)

None

Georgia injured players

Both Brock Bowers and Amarius Mims did not travel with the team to Miami. Both are expected to declare for the NFL Draft. Bowers has also been dealing with a “nagging” ankle injury. Mims had high ankle surgery and missed much of the season. He left the SEC championship game due to an ankle injury.

• Brock Bowers, TE, Jr.
• Amarius Mims, OL, Jr.
• Smael Mondon, LB, Jr.

Georgia transfers out

• Neyland Green, CB, R-So. (Purdue)
• Joshua Miller, OL, Fr. (Syracuse)
• Aliou Bah, OL, R-Fr. (Maryland)
• Darris Smith, LB, So. (Missouri)
• E.J. Lightsey, LB, R-Fr. (Georgia Tech)
• Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB, Je. (Kentucky)
• Xavian Sorey, LB, R-So. (Arkansas)
• Marvin Jones Jr., DL, So. (Florida State)
• Yazeed Haynes, WR, Fr. (Syracuse)
• CJ Madden, DL, R-Fr. (Purdue)
• Austin Blaske, OL, Jr. (North Carolina)
• Jackson Meeks, WR, Jr. (Syracuse)
• Jonathan Jefferson, DL, R-So. (SMU)
• Brock Vandagriff, QB, R-So. (Kentucky)
• Daniel Harris, CB, Fr.
• Logan Johnson, WR, R-So.
• De’Nylon Morrissette, WR, So.
• AJ Harris, CB, Fr.
• Mekhi Mews, WR, R-So.
• Jared Zirkel, K, Jr.
• EJ Lightsey, LB, R-Fr.

HOW TO WATCH ORANGE BOWL

Who: No. 5 FSU (13-0) vs. No. 6 Georgia (12-1)

When/where: 4 p.m., Saturday, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens

TV/Radio: ESPN/94.9 FM

Live game updates: www.Tallahassee.com; @Ehsan_Kassim, @jackgwilliams and @JimHenryTALLY on X, formerly Twitter

Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on X @jackgwilliams.