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Tracking FSU football, Georgia opt-outs ahead of Orange Bowl matchup

After both teams narrowly missed the College Football Playoff, Florida State and Georgia have had multiple transfers and opt-outs heading into their Dec. 30 matchup in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium.

Nine FSU players have declared for the NFL draft and two injured Georgia players have opted out.

Altogether, both teams have seen a combined 37 players enter the NCAA transfer portal, which opened on Dec. 4 and closes Jan 2. It has gone down from 45 days to 30 days this year.

Here are which FSU and Georgia players have opted out of the Orange Bowl.

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Florida State game-day injured players

Florida State's Braden Fiske sacks North Alabama quarterback Noah Walters during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley)
Florida State's Braden Fiske sacks North Alabama quarterback Noah Walters during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley)

Linebacker Tatum Bethune, defensive lineman Braden Fiske and defensive lineman Joshua Farmer were not dressed out at the start of pregame warm-ups.

  • Tatum Bethune, LB, R-Sr.

  • Braden Fiske, DL, R-Sr.

  • Joshua Farmer, DL, R-So.

Florida State opt-outs (healthy)

Florida State Seminoles defensive end Jared Verse (5) against the Syracuse Orange during the first half Oct. 14, 2023, at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
Florida State Seminoles defensive end Jared Verse (5) against the Syracuse Orange during the first half Oct. 14, 2023, at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

All of FSU's healthy opt-outs have declared for the NFL Draft.

Florida State injured players

Florida State transfers out

Florida State Seminoles quarterback Tate Rodemaker (18) throws the ball during the first half against the Florida Gators at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
Florida State Seminoles quarterback Tate Rodemaker (18) throws the ball during the first half against the Florida Gators at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]

Georgia opt-outs (healthy)

None

Georgia injured players

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a NCAA college football game against Ole Miss in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Georgia won 52-17.
Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a NCAA college football game against Ole Miss in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Georgia won 52-17.

Both Brock Bowers and Amarius Mims did not travel with the team to Miami. Both are expected to declare for the NFL Draft. Bowers has also been dealing with a "nagging" ankle injury. Mims had high ankle surgery and missed much of the season. He left the SEC championship game due to an ankle injury.

  • Brock Bowers, TE, Jr.

  • Amarius Mims, OL, Jr.

  • Smael Mondon, LB, Jr.

Georgia transfers out

  • Neyland Green, CB, R-So. (Purdue)

  • Joshua Miller, OL, Fr. (Syracuse)

  • Aliou Bah, OL, R-Fr. (Maryland)

  • Darris Smith, LB, So. (Missouri)

  • E.J. Lightsey, LB, R-Fr. (Georgia Tech)

  • Jamon Dumas-Johnson, LB, Je. (Kentucky)

  • Xavian Sorey, LB, R-So. (Arkansas)

  • Marvin Jones Jr., DL, So. (Florida State)

  • Yazeed Haynes, WR, Fr. (Syracuse)

  • CJ Madden, DL, R-Fr. (Purdue)

  • Austin Blaske, OL, Jr. (North Carolina)

  • Jackson Meeks, WR, Jr. (Syracuse)

  • Jonathan Jefferson, DL, R-So. (SMU)

  • Brock Vandagriff, QB, R-So. (Kentucky)

  • Daniel Harris, CB, Fr.

  • Logan Johnson, WR, R-So.

  • De'Nylon Morrissette, WR, So.

  • AJ Harris, CB, Fr.

  • Mekhi Mews, WR, R-So.

  • Jared Zirkel, K, Jr.

  • EJ Lightsey, LB, R-Fr.

HOW TO WATCH ORANGE BOWL

Who: No. 5 FSU (13-0) vs. No. 6 Georgia (12-1)

When/where: 4 p.m., Saturday, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens

TV/Radio: ESPN/94.9 FM

Live game updates: www.Tallahassee.com; @Ehsan_Kassim, @jackgwilliams and @JimHenryTALLY on X, formerly Twitter

Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on X @jackgwilliams. 

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Here are FSU football's opt-outs heading into Orange Bowl against Georgia