Another addition to Syracuse’s revamped offensive line.
The Syracuse Orange once again secured an addition from the transfer portal to help bolster its depth and experience in the trenches on offense.
TJ Ferguson, a four-star transfer who last played for Florida State, is committing to Syracuse for the 2025 season. Matt Zenitz and Mike McAllister with 247Sports were the first to report.
Ferguson ranked as a top-200 player in the transfer portal and was the 14th-best interior offensive lineman available, according to 247Sports’ transfer portal position rankings.
Florida State offensive guard transfer TJ Ferguson has committed to Syracuse, his agency @APSportsAgency tells me and @McAllisterMike1.
Former top recruit who began his career at Alabama before transferring to FSU. Was FSU’s starting left guard last year.… pic.twitter.com/XkO0vbTf5q
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) April 30, 2025
The Fort Valley, Georgia native first committed to Alabama as a consensus four-star prospect in the class of 2021. He also received offers from 17 other Power Five schools, including Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, LSU, Miami (FL), Tennessee and West Virginia.
After redshirting and playing just six snaps in 2021, Ferguson slowly earned playing time with the Crimson Tide. He would reach 50 snaps in 2022 and 116 snaps two seasons ago. He appeared in 12 total games (one as a starter) for Alabama, including six games for the 2023 team that won the SEC, then lost to Michigan in the College Football Playoff Semifinals.
Ferguson most recently transferred to FSU for the 2024 season, where he played in 11 games and started in seven of them. As many know, the Seminoles in 2024 were anything but great, finishing with just two wins.
For coach Fran Brown, Ferguson is an addition that will certainly come with plenty of risk, but also a good amount of reward if he pays off.
Ferguson notably dealt with injuries, including one during the middle of the 2024 season, that saw him see decreased playing time. He also reportedly faced an uphill battle with FSU ramping up its own offensive line during the offseason.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
In total, Ferguson played 487 snaps (all at left guard) in 2024. He finished the year with an offensive blocking grade of 42.6, including 55.4 as a pass blocker and 36.3 as a run blocker, according to Pro Football Focus.
Ferguson did have way higher grades as a blocker (especially in passing situations) in both 2022 and 2023, and the context should be factored in — playing for a championship-caliber Alabama team in a reserve role, then switching to a Seminoles program that was practically lifeless this past year.
All that being said, coach Brown is clearly eyeing experience and upside additions in the transfer portal, especially with the offensive line. Syracuse lost all three of David Wohlabaugh Jr., Enrique Cruz and J‘Onre Reed to the portal this offseason.
Including Ferguson, the Orange have also landed transfer portal commitments from former North Carolina offensive lineman Zach Rice, former South Carolina offensive lineman Kam Pringle and Louisville transfer offensive lineman Austin Collins.
Ferguson currently measures at six-foot-four and 330 lbs. He will have one year of eligibility left.