Florida State football offseason evaluation: Tight ends

2025 has come and gone for Florida State football and though there was improvement in the overall record, the results still fell short of Seminole expectations. With next season make-or-break for head coach Mike Norvell, how he and his staff navigate the roster could save his job or end his embattled tenure in Tallahassee. How did each position group do last season and what does the future look like?

The tight end room has seen ebbs and flows. Tight ends coach Chris Thomsen has been one of FSU’s more consistent (and underrated) recruiters in the Mike Norvell era but the development has rarely matched the levels of talent brought in, whether due to misusage, misevaluation, or individual players not putting in the requisite work to get better. Kyle Morlock was a significant disappointment, while Landen Thomas was unable to unlock many of the traits that made him a top recruit.

I’m including Amaree Thomas in these rankings even though his future appears to be on the defensive line. He made a big jump in PFF from 2024 to 2025 and was easily FSU’s best tight end in the limited snaps that he saw last season. Chase Loftin was a big recruiting victory in 2025 but he was given a redshirt after losing his first season to injury. He’ll likely factor into the tight end rotation out of necessity in 2026.

2025 Florida State tight ends: PFF grades

PFF National Ranking: T-51st overall, 73.0 pass routes

• Amaree Williams: 69.4 Total Offense, 54.4/70.1 on Run/Pass Blocking, 74.6 on Pass Routes
• Randy Pittman, Jr: 62.2 Total Offense, 57.0/57.0 on Run/Pass Blocking, 60.2 on Pass Routes
• Landen Thomas: 60.1 Total Offense, 57.4/44.6 on Run/Pass Blocking, 62.7 on Pass Routes
• Markeston Douglas: 57.5 Total Offense, 60.2/63.6 on Run/Pass Blocking, 54.9 on Pass Routes

2024 Florida State tight ends: PFF grades

PFF National Ranking: T-51st overall, 73.0 pass routes

• Amaree Williams: 59.9 Total Offense, 55.5/73.5 on Run/Pass Blocking, 59.6 on Pass Routes
• Landen Thomas: 59.3 Total Offense, 40.0/71.4 on Run/Pass Blocking, 66.9 on Pass Routes
• Kyle Morlock: 54.9 Total Offense, 51.7/67.3 on Run/Pass Blocking, 55.0 on Pass Routes
• Brian Courtney: 42.9 Total Offense, 40.8/72.4 on Run/Pass Blocking, 45.3 on Pass Routes

2026 tight end recruiting

With Pittman and Thomas jumping into the portal, Williams transitioning to primarily defense and Douglas having exhausted his eligibility, I think FSU will need two tight ends from the transfer portal. At least one blocking specialist is a necessity.

Two prep tight ends signed with the Seminoles, one of whom is a blue-chip. Here’s what I had to say about the #Tribe26 tight end haul:

I’ve long felt that Chris Thomsen is the most underappreciated recruiter among the assistant coaching staff (development is another story), and he brought in another promising blue-chip along with a high-floor legacy. FSU was able to hold off in-state Alabama and Auburn for Xavier Tiller, who has the makings of becoming a weapon in the passing game. Legacy Corbyn Fordham, who flipped from Ohio State to the Seminoles, provides a nice blocking option with safety-valve capabilities. It’s also nice to see FSU notch a recruiting victory in the Bolles School in Jacksonville. The Seminoles worked hard to flip Heze Kent from Florida, but were unsuccessful. Another solid year for tight end recruiting.

2026 projected depth

• Transfer portal player to be named later
• Chase Loftin/Transfer portal player to be named later
• Freshman Xavier Tiller

2026 outlook

It’s hard to say what this position group will look like in 2026 due to significant turnover at the position. I would like to see FSU work to retain Pittman if the price is right, though I think Thomas would be better off elsewhere (on and off the field, frankly). Loftin should factor into the equation assuming he’s healthy in spring.

I’m a big fan of adding skill players from lower-tier programs (or even Division II standouts) but that didn’t work with Morlock. You have to bring in at least one blocking specialist, if not two. Xavier Tiller can help from a receiving capacity but will need to work hard on adding strength and blocking to become a consistent contributor. I think Fordham would benefit from a redshirt year, though FSU might be forced to play him earlier than it would like due to numbers.