Florida State University football team strengthens with addition of Oklahoma's dynamic scoring asset, boasting 11 career touchdowns.
Score Big for Florida State: Rebuilding the Gridiron via College Football Transfer Portal
There's a fresh wind blowing through the Swamp—or, more accurately, the Tallahassee streets—as Florida State University takes some significant strides towards revamping their football program following a disheartening season. Head coach Mike Norvell is shaking things up, demonstrating his ambition to reinstate the Seminoles' glory days with a shrewd move right out of the college football transfer portal.
Enter Gavin Sawchuk, the dynamic former Oklahoma Sooners running back, who has pledged his allegiance to Florida State, giving them a promising two more years of domination on the gridiron. The university's social media pages announced the new addition to their team.
Sawchuk's decision comes after he declared his intention to transfer in the spring college football transfer portal in April, weeks after Oklahoma welcomed former Cal backup Jadyn Ott to their ranks. Thankfully for Gabe Sawchuk, his younger brother, he'll still be developing his skills in Norman.
Across three tumultuous years at Oklahoma, Sawchuk amassed 977 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He truly came into his own in 2023, putting forth an impressive 744 rushing yards on an incredible 6.2 yards per carry. However, he found it difficult to carve out a meaningful role behind Jovantae Barnes and Taylor Tatum in 2024, managing a measly 128 rushing yards and a solitary touchdown.
Florida State's eagerly awaited new recruit will now challenge for the starting position against former Alabama transfer Roydell Williams and sophomore Kam Davis. Williams, who was expected to spearhead the backfield in 2024, managed a dismal 53 yards in merely four games, and he'll need to battle it out with the incoming talent in the preseason.
The Seminoles didn't stop there. Hours after announcing Sawchuk's commitment, Florida State nabbed another valuable transfer, former North Carolina wideout Gavin Blackwell, making it a double sweep at the transfer portal that day.
While Sawchuk and Blackwell's new journeys begin, other recent transfers like offensive linemen, Joshua Raymond, Jaelyn Matthews, and TJ Ferguson, along with wide receiver Hykeem Williams, are also set to join the Seminoles. The team has already secured quarterback Thomas Castellanos, tight end Randy Pittman, and more offensive linemen, Adrian Medley and Gunnar Hansen, in a determined drive to rejuvenate their roster.
Facing the daunting prospect of delivering a rebound season after ending 2024 with a dismal 2-10 record, Florida State desperately needs a comeback in 2025. The weight of expectation coupled with the uncertainty surrounding Norvell's job makes this a make-or-break year. With a laser-focused strategy on the transfer portal, the Seminoles aim to reinstate their dominance with a carefully calculated mix of both experience and youth.
Gavin Sawchuk, previously with Oklahoma Sooners, has joined Florida State University's football team, adding American-football talent to their NCAA Football roster following a transfer via the college football portal. The Seminoles continued their recruitment drive hours later, securing the commitment of former North Carolina wideout, Gavin Blackwell, further bolstering their team for the upcoming season in a pursuit to reclaim their gridiron dominance.
