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FSU football lands 2nd Alabama transfer in wide receiver Malik Benson out of portal
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- FSU football lands 2nd Alabama transfer in wide receiver Malik Benson out of portal
Another former Alabama football player has committed to Florida State out of the NCAA transfer portal.
Wide receiver Malik Benson committed to FSU on Monday, marking the sixth player to transfer into the program in 48 hours. He's the second Alabama player to make the switch joining defensive back Earl Little Jr., who committed on Saturday.
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"I am fired up to have Malik joining our program," FSU head coach Mike Norvell said in a press release. "He's an explosive playmaker who brings elite-level speed and quickness to the receiver position. Malik was one of the top players in the country coming out of junior college and he showcased a tremendous skillset as a starter for a Power 5 conference champion."
"His attributes on film will be showcased at a high level here with our offense as he is primed to take the next step in his career here at Florida State."
The 6-foot-1-inch, 195-pound junior played in all 14 games this season, recording 162 yards receiving on 13 receptions and one touchdown, which came in a 66-10 win over Chattanooga on Nov. 18.
Before coming to Alabama, Benson was ranked as the No. 1 junior college recruit in the Class of 2023 out of Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas.
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He caught 43 passes for 1,229 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games as a freshman and added 923 yards receiving and 10 more touchdowns on 54 receptions as a sophomore.
He went to Lansing High School in Lansing, Kansas, a town of 11,200 located just northwest of Kansas City. Over three years he recorded 1,119 yards receiving on 62 receptions over 24 games and 11 touchdowns.
Benson's junior college career was huge as he went from very few offers and no stars in high school to becoming a 5-star, top recruit in the country.
He is the second wide receiver FSU has picked up in the portal joining LSU freshman Jalen Brown . Benson joins a wide receiver room made up of Ja'Khi Douglas, Kentron Poitier, Deuce Spann , Darion Williamson, Joshua Burrell, Destyn Hill , Hykeem Williams , Vandrevius Jacobs, Elijah Moore , Camdon Frier, BJ Gibson, Lawyane McCoy and Brown.
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In the time the portal opened and closed, FSU lost one wide receiver and two tight ends: freshman wide receiver Goldie Lawrence, tight end Preston Daniel and tight end Markeston Douglas. Wide receivers Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman , and tight end Jaheim Bell all declared for the NFL Draft.
FSU Football 2023 Winter Transfer Tracker
Transfers in:
Marvin Jones Jr., DL, Redshirt sophomore - Georgia
DJ Uiagalelei, QB, 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
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Davonte Brown, 4th-Jr., Defensive back - Miami (FL)
Malik Benson, Jr., Wide receiver - Alabama
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
Tyler Keltner, K, Redshirt senior ( Oklahoma )
DJ Lundy, LB, Redshirt junior (Colorado)
Malcolm Ray, DT, Redshirt junior
Daughtry Richardson, OL, Freshman (Florida Atlantic)
Qae'shon Sapp, OL, Freshman (Louisiana Monroe)
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Thomas Shrader, OL, Redshirt junior (Appalachian State)
Ayobami Tifase, DL, Redshirt freshman ( Georgia Tech )
Tate Rodemaker, QB, Redshirt junior (Souther Miss)
Gilber Edmond, DE, Redshirt junior
Goldie Lawrence, WR, Freshman
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
Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on X @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football lands Alabama wide receiver Malik Benson out of NCAA transfer portal
