Florida State has seen several players change their minds after deciding to enter the transfer portal, opting to return to Tallahassee.
That isn’t the case for Earl Little Jr., who instead has announced his intentions to transfer after initially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft.
The news was first reported by On3.
Little Jr. had declared for the NFL draft just over a month ago after spending two seasons in Tallahassee. After working as a backup his first year at FSU, Little Jr. earned a starting role
for the Seminoles this season. He started 11 of 12 games for FSU in 2025, leading the Seminoles with 76 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles (as well as two tackles for loss and two break ups). In 2024, he saw the field in a reserve role, playing in all 12 games while logging 15 tackles, one TFL and one sack.
From his FSU bio:
2025 (Redshirt Junior): Started first 11 games of season and appeared in all 12…led Florida State with 76 tackles, four interceptions for 83 yards and two forced fumbles…added 2.0 tackles for loss and two pass breakups…ended regular season fourth in ACC and 16th nationally in total interceptions…most interceptions for a Seminole since 2021…three consecutive games with interception was longest at FSU since 2016…one of two players in the ACC in regular season with at least 75 tackles and four interceptions…Alabama: made first career start against former team, racking up team-high nine tackles and two-yard tackle for loss…East Texas A&M: returned first career interception 48 yards to go along with two tackles in 77-3 FSU win…Kent State: four total tackles against the Golden Flashes…Virginia: career-high 13 tackles, most for a Seminole in 2025…paired with Ja’Bril Rawls (11) to become the first FSU teammates with double-digit tackles in a game since 2022…Miami: seven tackles against the Hurricanes…Pitt: five tackles, one interception and one forced fumble…Stanford: five tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss and one interception…Wake Forest: team-high seven tackles, one interception returned for 35 yards and one forced fumble vs. Demon Deacons…FSU forced three fumbles against Wake…Clemson: five tackles…Virginia Tech: three tackles and second career pass breakup…NC State: six tackles…Florida: seven tackles in season finale.
2024 (Redshirt Sophomore): Played 12 games in reserve role, finishing with 15 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and 1.0 sack…named Special Teams Newcomer of the Year in FSU postseason awards…switched from nickel position to safety in middle of season…career-high six tackles at Miami, including four solo tackles…entered contest with five tackles in 18 career games…three tackles vs. Florida in season finale and two tackles vs. North Carolina…added tackles against Georgia Tech, Boston College, Memphis and Notre Dame…sack came vs. Boston College…made Florida State debut in season opener vs. Georgia Tech in Dublin.
BEFORE FSU: Appeared in 11 games in two seasons at Alabama and recorded two tackles…played in eight games during redshirt freshman season for SEC champion Crimson Tide, registering two tackles in win vs. MTSU…returned from injury to play three games as true freshman…made collegiate debut in win vs. Mississippi State…also saw action in wins vs. Austin Peay and Auburn…consensus four-star prospect out of American Heritage ranked as No. 5 cornerback in America, No. 8 overall prospect from Florida and No. 39 in Class of 2022 by On3…rated No. 12 cornerback in America, No. 10 overall prospect in Florida and No. 84 in nation by 247Sports…ranked No. 9 nationally at his position, No. 14 in Florida and No. 83 overall by Rivals…No. 208 in ESPN300…recorded 106 tackles, 2.0 for loss, six interceptions and one fumble recovery at American Heritage…invited to All-American Bowl after senior year…made 34 tackles and was named All-Broward County as American Heritage advanced to regional semifinal round of 5A state playoffs…first-team all-state performer during junior season after helping lead Patriots to state championship with 35 tackles and two interceptions on defense that held opponents to 11.2 points per game…grabbed four interceptions and one fumble recovery while making 37 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, his sophomore season on 10-2 team that advanced to regional final round of state playoffs…son of nine-year NFL veteran Earl Little Sr.
