In a significant roster change, junior linebacker Justin Cryer has declared his intention to transfer from Florida State University. This announcement comes in the wake of multiple players deciding to enter the transfer portal on January 5, signaling a shift in the Seminoles” roster as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Cryer, who has spent three seasons with the Seminoles, participated in all 12 games during the 2025 season, earning eight starting roles. He recorded a total of 43 tackles, including five for a loss, and one sack. Notably, he matched his career-high of seven tackles in a challenging game against Alabama. However, his performance was not without flaws, as he missed 14% of his tackle attempts and allowed 13 completions on 20 targets, resulting in 105 yards and a touchdown, according to Pro Football Focus.
Originally a recruit for Northwestern out of high school, Cryer made the move to Florida State prior to his freshman year due to a coaching change. He demonstrated promise late in the 2024 season, but an injury sidelined him for his final three games. Hailing from Texas, Cryer was part of the FSU team that secured the ACC Championship in 2023 and has been a regular contributor to the linebacker rotation over the past two seasons.
Throughout his time at Florida State, Cryer appeared in 34 games, starting in ten. His career statistics include 87 tackles, seven tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery, and one interception.
As Cryer moves on, several players are poised to fill the gaps in the linebacker corps, including rising senior Blake Nichelson and redshirt junior Caleb LaVallee, alongside incoming true freshman Izayia Williams.
