Florida State saw one player from its 2023 signing class (Ja’Bril Rawls) opt to return to Tallahassee on Wednesday after initially entering the transfer portal but is potentially set to lose another as defensive
lineman KJ Sampson announced plans to enter when the window opens next month.
The news was first reported by On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
Sampson saw time as a reserve lineman over the past two seasons, recording 22 tackles (1.5 for loss) over that period after redshirting in 2023, playing in five games and logging five tackles.
From his FSU bio:
2025 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played 10 games…had 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss…East Texas A&M: one tackle, including 0.5 tackles for loss…Kent State: two assisted tackles…Stanford: two tackles…Wake Forest: two tackles…Clemson: tackle was for one-yard loss, first solo TFL of career…Virginia Tech: two tackles…Florida: one tackle.
2024 (Redshirt Freshman): Appeared in final 11 games of season…recorded 10 total tackles, including career-best and team-high six at Miami…entered Miami contest with seven career tackles over 11 games…two tackles vs. Memphis…one tackle against Charleston Southern and Florida…pass breakup at Notre Dame was first of career.
2023 (Freshman): Appeared in five games…recorded five tackles…FSU Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year…made collegiate debut in 66-13 win vs. Southern Miss and registered two tackles…had two tackles in 41-3 win at Syracuse…recorded solo tackle in Orange Bowl vs. No. 6 Georgia…also saw action in 41-16 win at Wake Forest and 58-13 win at North Alabama…redshirted 2023 season.
BEFORE FSU: Consensus four-star recruit rated as No. 5 prospect in North Carolina, 29th among all defensive linemen nationally and country’s No. 186 prospect by 247Sports…ranked No. 7 in North Carolina and No. 13 defensive tackle in the nation by ESPN…220th in ESPN300…ranked No. 8 in North Carolina, No. 24 nationally at his position and No. 186 overall in the country by On3…tabbed 13th in state and 19th overall among defensive tackles by Rivals…recorded 255 tackles, including 47.0 for loss with 31.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception in his prep career…selected to play in Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas following senior season…named NC Prep’s Defensive Player of the Year…helped lead New Bern to perfect 16-0 season and 4A state championship in 2022…made 96 tackles, including 23.0 for loss with 18.0 sacks during state title season…recorded 62 tackles, 12.0 for loss with 7.0 sacks, in eight games his junior year, helping Bears to 10 wins and second round of state playoffs…also played basketball for New Bern.
