Florida State has decided to add another transfer running back to the fold for 2026, as Gemari Sands committed to sign with FSU.
The news was reported by both 247Sports and On3.
Sands is a 6-foot, 195-pound running back originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He played for St. Thomas Aquinas before signing with Florida Atlantic in 2023. He is expected to have two years of eligibility remaining, having already used his redshirt in 2023.
Sands played in 12 games last season for the Owls, gaining 465
yards on 105 carries and catching 40 passes for 217 yards. In 2024 as a redshirt freshman, he carried 31 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns and caught three balls for 60 yards.
Sands brings a unique element to the backfield with his heavy experience in the short passing game. He’ll be added to a running backs room that features returning Seminoles Ousmane Kromah and Sam Singleton, Tribe 26 signee Amari Thomas, and fellow transfer addition Tre Wisner (Texas).
From his FAU bio:
Redshirt Sophomore (2025)
- Opened the season as the starting back for the Owls
- Tallied 44 yards on nine carries and was targeted three times, collecting each for a total of 19 yards and added another six on kick return for a total of 69 all-purpose yards versus Maryland
- Carried the ball 10 times for a total of 83 yards versus FAMU while adding five receptions, every time targeted, for 28 yards
- Completed the Shula Bowl vs FIU with 14 carries, none negative, for a total of 105 yards, his first career game surpassing the 100 yard plateau and added three catches for an additional 13 yards
- Carried the ball five times versus Memphis for a total of 13 yards and added two receptions for a totaling 11 yards before an being sidelined with an injury
- Used sparingly, while recovering from an injury, with nine yards on three carries and added a reception for a loss of a yard in the Owls’ win over Rice
- Saw limited action with 11 carries and totaled 47 yards, while adding four receptions for 25 yards in the Owls’ 53-33 win over UAB
- Tied with a team leading seven carries for a total of seven yards and added four receptions totaling 14 yards at No. 19 South Florida
- Led the Owls’ run game with 22 yards on seven carries versus an undefeated Navy and added a one yard reception
- Carried the ball six times for a total of seven yards and collected two passes for 13 yards in the Owls’ 40-21 win versus Tulsa
- Recorded 50 rushing yards and collected five receptions for an additional 38 yards for the Owls at Tulsa
- Gained 46 yards on 11 carries and added an additional 14 more on four receptions versus UConn
- Versus ECU he carried the ball nine times for a total of 34 yards and was second on the team with six receptions, collecting the ball each time targeted, for a total of 28 yards
Redshirt Freshman (2024)
- Saw action at Michigan State
- Was in the rotation versus Army
- Had a 25-yard kick return in the Owls’ Shula Bowl win over FIU
- Versus UConn, recorded a three-yard carry and was part of the return unit, recording three tackles
- Scored his first collegiate touchdown in the Owls’ win over Wagner, a night he recorded 22 yards on five carries
- Worked with special teams at UTSA
- Continued to see time with the special teams unit versus South Florida
- Served as the Owls’ No. 2 back versus ECU, earning eight carries for 10 yards and collecting two passes, including one incredible reception for a season-long 34 yards and ending the night with 36 receiving yards
- Recorded three carries for a total of eight yards versus Temple
- Carried the ball nine times for a total of 48 yards versus Charlotte and was targeted in the passing game once
- Tallied five carries totaling 26 yards and including a 22-yard scoring run versus Tulsa, and he added a 24-yard reception
Freshman (2023)
- Joined the Owls following his high school graduation and used the year to gain experience
- Redshirted the season
High School
- Played for head coach Roger Harriett, a one-time FAU assistant coach who focused on running backs
- 2022 saw Sands play among a strong rotation that guided Aquinas to a state championship over Homestead
- He averaged 14.3 yards per carry and 40.1 yards per game for Aquinas as a senior
- In 2021, scored twice versus Cardinal Gibbons at FAU
- Part of a historically strong prep program that continued its winning ways in 2021 with a 7A Championship
- In 13 games, totaled 465 yards and four scores while averaging 12.2 yards per carry, added four receptions for a total of 50 yards and two TDs, and averaged 29.5 yards per kick return, finding the end zone once
- Considered the 103rd best running back by On3
- Also considered Colorado, FIU, and Jackson State
