Florida State football has built a track record of developing short-term players that entered the transfer portal. That turned on to former Auburn linebacker Cam Riley.
During the final day of FSU's newcomer availability, Riley spoke about his decision to join the Seminoles after playing four years at Auburn.
“Coming into this transfer Porter process, I knew Florida State was a great program, and it could help me excel more as more than a football player and a person off the field,” Riley said.
"It is a great staff here. Coach Mike Norvell leads the program in a very positive way. To see good things all the time on and off the field, so you know it was a no-brainer, coming out the porter and choosing FSU.”
FSU wasn't Riley's first choice after he entered the transfer portal. He initially committed to North Carolina State in February and remained loyal to the Wolfpack for two months. He then chose the Seminoles on May 8.
“I watch the defenses," Riley explained. "Both of them are great, very great defense. N.C. State runs a good defense and Florida State does as well, but I kind of watched a lot of film, and I felt I'd be more productive in this defense.”
Riley confirmed that he plans on playing inside linebacker for the Seminoles. He expects to be a key contributor on the defense as a communicator and vocal leader, which will make up for the losses of Kalen DeLoach and Tatum Bethune .
Riley describes himself as a film guy and saw some Florida State games while he was a Tiger. He was impressed by the defense and the season it had after finishing the year 13-1.
Riley believes he fits FSU's style of play.
“Watching the defense from last year, I've seen a lot of great stuff on film,” Riley said.
"Coach Adam Fuller’s defense is very aggressive, and that's something I like doing. I like being in an aggressive defense where I can make negative plays in the backfield. So, just watching them from last year, and going into this year, I expect great things out of this defense.”
Cam Riley fights through adversity back in Auburn
Riley has been up and down throughout his career at Auburn.
As a Tiger, he appeared in 46 games and started 10. He recorded 121 tackles, including 8.0 for loss with 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
Auburn has handled coaching changes in the defensive coordinator position in the last four years, which affected Riley's playing time.
"Things would be different each year from the situation I had, but I was going through adversity," Riley said.
"(Just) keeping God's first and keeping the main thing the main thing. I was trying to work day in and day out and not just giving up on myself."
Last season, he registered 32 tackles, 3.5 for loss with 2.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and one pass breakup. He started seven of 11 games.
In the 2022 season, he recorded 66 tackles, 3.5 for loss, one quarterback hurry, and one pass breakup tackles, ranking second among Tiger.
Riley benefitted from the coaching changes as the senior linebacker learned different defensive schemes.
“That kind of feels like that compliments my knowledge of football from going from Auburn to transferring to Florida State," Riley said.
"So, making that adjustment to learning something new every year, so I feel like that should help me out in the long run."
Florida State Seminoles 2024 Football Schedule
- Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
- Sept. 21 vs. California
- Sept. 28 at SMU
- Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
- Oct. 18 at Duke
- Oct. 26 at (U) Miami
- Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
- Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
- Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
- Nov. 30: Florida
- Dec. 7: ACC Championship
BOLD = ACC
* = Neutral Site
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Auburn transfer Cam Riley says joining Florida State football was a 'no-brainer'
Most Popular
Comments / 0