Florida State Top Star Player Transferred to  Alabama For The 2024 Season Due To…

Dalvin Cook was a superstar running back for Florida State from 2014 to 2016. During his time in Tallahassee, the Seminoles could have been even more stacked at the running back position.

Alabama and current NFL star Derrick Henry revealed on The Pivot Podcast that he nearly transferred to Florida State in college.

“At the time, I was like — how these kids are now, they go to one school then leave. I was really thinking about going to Florida State. I was almost close to leaving and going to Florida State,” Henry said on the podcast.

Henry was featured at Alabama from 2013 to 2015 where he posted 3,591 rushing yards and 42 rushing touchdowns in his college football career. A majority of his production came in his final campaign with the Crimson Tide before he took off to the NFL as an eventual second-round pick.

“But me and coach [Nick] Saban had a talk and I eventually ended up staying and everything worked out,” Henry continued.

While the what-if of Henry joining the Seminoles is an intriguing thought and things would have looked much, much different in Tallahassee, it might have been the best for Henry to remain in Tuscaloosa under the leadership of Saban, arguably the best college football coach of all time.

“It’s a process. You come from a small town — being in high school, you’re the man. You were like Superman for your team. It’s more to football than handing you the ball and telling you ‘Derrick just go. Go score.’ You’ve got to know the fundementals about the game,” Henry said of Saban’s message to him. “There’s just more to it than just handing you the ball and letting you run. And I didn’t really understand that.”

Now-retired, it’s clear the impact Saban had on his players. Had Henry transferred to Tallahassee, the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner would have had to share the ball with Cook, who is one of the best Seminoles.

“We had our final conversation about everything — because I was still indecisive. It was like the night before we played Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl my freshman year,” Henry said.

Henry saw just 35 carries in his freshman year, but his sophomore campaign, where he recieved 172 carries, proved that staying might have been the right choice. It’s interesting to think about what the Seminoles could have done with the Balitmore Ravens running back. What would it have meant for Cook, who will always be loved by the Seminoles fan base? Would Jimbo Fisher’s career in Tallahassee have played out differently? It’s certainly a fun what-if.

Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the spring.

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Doak Campbell Stadium is in the midst of significant upgrades and renovations that will have Bobby Bowden Field looking a lot different once the construction is completed in 2025. That doesn’t mean fans have to forget the history that’s been established in Tallahassee by one of the top programs in college football.

In fact, Florida State fans have a unique opportunity to own a piece of Seminole lore through a partnership between The Battle’s End and CollectibleXchange. However, it will come with a hefty price tag.

Bleacher seats, signs, and bricks (with display cases) are all up for grabs for various prices. The most expensive item is a ‘Bleacher Seat Piece With Legs’ for $599.99 while the cheapest is an ‘Emergency Public Telephone Sign’ for $149.99. The ‘Doak Campbell Stadium Authentic Brick With Display Case’ comes in at $249.99 and the ‘Authentic Piece Of Bleacher Seat’ sits at $199.99.

Every purchase will come with a certificate of authenticity. Part of the proceeds will actually go directly to support The Battle’s End, one of the fastest growing NIL Collectives in the country.

“This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of FSU football’s rich history while also making an investment in its bright future,” Battle’s End CEO Ingram Smith said according to On3. “We’re very excited to partner with an industry leader in Brandon Steiner and every piece will come with its own certificate of authenticity. Proceeds will go to support The Battle’s End, and we’ve been exceptionally encouraged by the fanbase’s response.”

The west side of Doak Campbell Stadium has been completely demolished as part of the early phases of construction. That will have an impact on the 2024 season as only about 7,000 temporary seats will be available on that side of the stadium. Attendance is expected to be limited to less than 60,000 throughout the next year. The east sideline seats are being widened to 18 inches and handrails are being installed in those sections. Those seats will include a breathable, mesh seat on top of the bleacher seating.

Florida State is on pace to complete the renovations before the beginning of the 2025 season. The Seminoles will open that campaign against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, August 30, 2025.

Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the spring.