Caziah Holmes, Jeremiah Byers and Fentrell Cypress talk decision to transfer to Florida State

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Caziah Holmes, Jeremiah Byers and Fentrell Cypress talk decision to transfer to Florida State

Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat · Tallahassee Democrat

Thu, Jan 19, 2023 ·

5 min read

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Caziah Holmes may have been introduced as a newcomer to Florida State football on Wednesday morning, but he is someone who knows the program well.

Holmes transferred to the Seminoles from Penn State at the end of last August. Because he transferred after the May 1 portal deadline, Holmes could not play in any games last season. But he made his presence felt on the practice field, playing on the scout team.

While all three of the newcomers who spoke Wednesday − Holmes, offensive lineman Jeremiah Byers (UTEP) and defensive back Fentrell Cypress II (Virginia) − spoke highly of the culture head coach Mike Norvell has built, Holmes is the one player who has experienced it.

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"I think it's what we're doing here," Holmes said. "The brotherhood, the family we have going on here, what Mike Norvell is doing. I think it's bringing us all together to be a great team and a great brotherhood to have success on and off the field."

With running back Treshuan Ward transferring to Kansas State, Holmes could see himself play a bigger role for FSU next season.

"Taking it day by day, but you know I see myself leaving a big impact on the team," Holmes said. "Whatever I can do to make the team better and impact the team is what I'm going to do."

In two seasons at Penn State, Holmes appeared in 12 games, rushing for 254 yards and two touchdowns while adding six catches for 37 yards.

Holmes, from Titusville, knows the Florida State program well. Part of the reason he made the decision to transfer from the Nittany Lions to the Seminoles, even if it meant sitting out a season, was to be closer to family.

"I think just being a Florida native, I wanted to get back home close to my family and my daughter; that was the biggest decision for me coming here," Holmes said.

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Work ethic impresses Jeremiah Byers

Byers spent some time on campus and even witnessed a couple of Seminole practices as they prepped for their Cheez-It Bowl game against Oklahoma.

While he spent time around the team, Byers came out impressed by what he saw and heard, particularly from offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins.

"What I was impressed most by was just the work ethic of the team," Byers said. "There was never a dull moment. There wasn't a moment where they could just sit out there and chill.

"Coach Atkins said something at the second practice I was in. He said that, 'Every day out here is a performance. This isn't given to you. ... If you're not performing, I will put you on the scout team regardless of who you are.' That's what stood out to me."

While the on-campus visit and being at practice played a role in his decision to transfer from UTEP, Beyers said it was something else Norvell and Atkins did that won him over.

"Coach Atkins and coach Norvell, when they came to my house, that's what influenced me the most and on my visit," he said. "They made me feel like I was a priority here. They wanted me to develop as a man, and that's what made me want to choose Florida State."

The Seminoles finished the season 10-3, their first 10-win season since 2016 and the 25th in program history.

With quarterback Jordan Travis, receiver Johnny Wilson, running back Trey Benson and defensive end Jared Verse among the players returning for FSU, expectations are high for the team going into next season.

"Knowing the guys coming back, it's like, why would you not want to be a part of that?" Byers said.

Byers said he did not have to do too much research about the history of Florida State to make his decision.

"The history of Florida State speaks for itself," he said. "You got (Bobby Bowden), then you got Deion Sanders, of course. Everybody loves Deion. When I came here, I didn't know too much, but it just felt the most like home."

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For Cypress, one of the top cornerbacks in the transfer portal, FSU's history and his relationships guided him to Tallahassee.

"The relationships I had built were different from other schools, and the recruiting process helped me a lot," Cypress said. "Just the history of Florida State and DBU, that's something that helped a lot with my decision."

While defensive backs coach/defensive passing game coordinator Marcus Woodson left for a new role with Arkansas, he received a shoutout from Cypress for his landing with the Seminoles.

Woodson and defensive coordinator Adam Fuller both were in on Cypress early.

"The first couple of days, it didn't take too long," Cypress said of FSU reaching out to him. "Coach Woodson and coach Fuller; coach Fuller was the first coach to talk to me. ... That was the main guy I was talking to throughout the recruiting process."

Cypress was named second-team All-ACC this season after recording 39 tackles and 14 pass breakups for Virginia in 2022.

According to 247 Sports, he was a 3-star prospect and the 951st-rated prospect in the 2019 class out of Northwestern High in Rock Hill, S.C.

After his career with the Cavaliers, he was rated as the No. 4 transfer portal prospect by 247Sports.

"In high school, I was more under the radar," Cypress said. "I wasn't highly recruited. I had a couple of ACC schools that offered me. But this time, it was more of all different types of conferences and way more schools. It was interesting, but also overwhelming.

"I feel good that the process is over now and I made the right decision. I am blessed to be in this position."

More: Florida State football: Culture under Mike Norvell molded successful season, Cheez-It Bowl win

Thursday

Five additional players will be introduced to the media on Thursday, starting at 10:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m. – Defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr. (transfer from Miami)

10:45 a.m. – Offensive lineman Casey Roddick (transfer from Colorado)

11 a.m. – Defensive back K.J. Kirkland (freshman from Raines High School in Jacksonville)

11:15 a.m. – Defensive lineman Lamont Green Jr. (freshman from Gulliver Prep in Miami)

11:30 a.m. – Tight end Jaheim Bell (transfer from South Carolina)

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Caziah Holmes, Jeremiah Byers and Fentrell Cypress talk decision to transfer to FSU

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