FSU football picks up Alabama OL from Transfer Portal. Mike Norvell tweets about addition
Amid speculation about Florida State head coach Mike Norvell being a candidate for the Alabama football job following the retirement of legendary coach Nick Saban, Norvell continued to add to his 2024 roster.
Alabama offensive line transfer Terrence Ferguson announced his pledge to the Seminoles on Thursday. Norvell, who has been speculated as a potential candidate for the Crimson Tide job after Saban's abrupt retirement Wednesday, tweeted about the addition.
"Great day to be a Florida State Seminole!! #BIGMAN coming to the #NoleFamily and #Tribe24 Future is bright in Tallahassee #KeepCLIMBing," Norvell wrote on X.
Great day to be a Florida State Seminole!! #BIGMAN coming to the #NoleFamily and #Tribe24 Future is bright in Tallahassee #KeepCLIMBing pic.twitter.com/FhLsqZRDwa
— Mike Norvell (@Coach_Norvell) January 11, 2024
Ferguson, a 6-foot-4, 322-pounder, played in five games for Alabama this season, playing 116 total snaps. He made one start, against South Florida, early in the season.
He played in two games after redshirting in 2021. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
According to 247Sports Transfer Rankings, the former Peach County High (Fort Valley, Georgia) standout is ranked as the No. 131 overall player and the No. 3 interior offensive lineman.
He is the 11th transfer addition for FSU in the winter portal class and the ninth since last Saturday.
FSU announced his signing Thursday evening.
“I am so excited about TJ joining the Nole Family," Norvell said in a press release. "He brings tremendous size and athleticism with an incredibly high ceiling for the impact he can make. TJ is a wonderful young man off the field who is extremely intelligent with a great plan to maximize his opportunity here at Florida State.
"We think this is a special fit into our offensive line room as TJ embraces the work and culture we have established.”
While Norvell acknowledged the addition of Ferguson on X and in the statement, he has yet to deny interest in the Alabama job, as Oregon coach Dan Lanning did Thursday afternoon, posting a video on X of his decision to stay.
That was Norvell's first tweet since Saban's retirement announcement.
FSU Football 2023 Winter Transfer Tracker
Transfers in:
Marvin Jones Jr., R-So., Defensive end, - Georgia
DJ Uiagalelei, Jr, Quarterback - Oregon State
Jalen Brown, Fr., Wide receiver - LSU
Earl Little Jr., R-Fr., Defensive back - Alabama
Grady Kelly, R-So., Defensive lineman - Colorado State
Jaylin Lucas, Jr., Running back - Indiana
Davonte Brown, 4th-Jr., Defensive back - Miami (FL)
Malik Benson, Jr., Wide receiver - Alabama
Tomiwa Durojaiye, R-Fr., Defensive lineman - West Virginia
Sione Lolohea, Jr., Defensive lineman - Oregon State
Terrence Ferguson, R-So., Offensive lineman - Alabama
Transfers out:
CJ Campbell, RB, Redshirt sophomore (Florida Atlantic)
Preston Daniel, TE, Redshirt junior (Buffalo)
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
Tyler Keltner, K, Redshirt senior (Oklahoma)
Malcolm Ray, DT, Redshirt junior (Rutgers)
Daughtry Richardson, OL, Freshman (Florida Atlantic)
Qae'shon Sapp, OL, Freshman (Louisiana Monroe)
Thomas Shrader, OL, Redshirt junior (Appalachian State)
Ayobami Tifase, DL, Redshirt freshman (Georgia Tech)
Tate Rodemaker, QB, Redshirt junior (Southern Miss)
Gilber Edmond, DE, Redshirt junior
Goldie Lawrence, WR, Freshman (UCF)
NFL Draft declarations
Jaheim Bell, TE, Redshirt junior
Trey Benson, RB, Redshirt junior
Jarrian Jones, DB, Redshirt senior
Fabien Lovett, DL, Redshirt senior
Kalen Deloach, LB, Redshirt senior
D'Mitri Emmanuel, OL, Redshirt senior
Tatum Bethune, LB, Redshirt senior
Akeem Dent, DB, Senior
Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports), Instagram (tlhnolesports) and YouTube channel (NoleSportsTD).
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Terrence Ferguson picks FSU football in portal; Mike Norvell tweets
