Promising Florida State Defensive Lineman Enters NCAA Transfer Portal

Originally posted on Florida State Seminoles on SI
By Dustin Lewis | Last updated 12/5/23

No matter the talent, sometimes it just doesn't work out for certain players due to a myriad of reasons. That's why the NCAA instituted the one-time transfer rule last offseason and thousands of athletes around the country have taken advantage of their rights to find a new place to call home. Graduates can still transfer at any given time.

On Tuesday evening, redshirt freshman defensive lineman Ayobami Tifase announced his intentions to explore his options in the portal after two years at Florida State. Tifase will retain three seasons of eligibility after appearing in a trio of games for the Seminoles in 2023. He saw action against Southern Miss, Syracuse, and North Alabama, recording his lone career tackle in the win over the Orange.

As a young prospect in a deep defensive line run that fielded veterans such as Fabien Lovett, Braden Fiske, Dennis Briggs, Malcolm Ray, and Joshua Farmer, it was tough for Tifase to break into the rotation despite his promising skillset. It didn't help that injuries at certain points limited his ability to consistently practice.

Regardless, it was obvious that Tifase is a talented player when he's available. NoleGameday even named him one of our early pleasant surprises during Florida State's slate of fall practices back in August. Tifase had some dominant stretches when the team was practicing at UNF in Jacksonville. This is a disappointing conclusion to his tenure in Tallahassee after he redshirted while he was ineligible to play last year.

The Maryland native was a late addition to FSU's 2022 recruiting class, ultimately choosing the Seminoles over Arkansas, Virginia Tech, and UConn in the summer leading up to the season. At the time, his relationship with head coach Mike Norvell and defensive line coach Odell Haggins were factors in signing with Florida State.

As of now, FSU has five scholarship defensive tackles who are eligible to return in 2024, including redshirt junior Malcolm Ray, junior Darrell Jackson, redshirt sophomore Joshua Farmer, redshirt freshman Daniel Lyons, and true freshman KJ Sampson. The Seminoles will add three-star Jamorie Flagg and likely another prep prospect and potentially a portal player to the fold.

Tifase is the eighth player from Florida State to enter the portal since the conclusion of the regular season and ACC Championship. He joins quarterback AJ Duffy, running back CJ Campbell, tight end Markeston Douglas, tight end Preston Daniel, offensive lineman Daughtry Richardson, offensive line Qae'shon Sapp, and linebacker Dylan Brown-Turner.