<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/auburn-tigers/">Auburn</a> transfer OT <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/xavier-chaplin-146138/">Xavier Chaplin</a> has committed to <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/florida-state-seminoles/">Florida State</a>. On3’s Pete Nakos reported the news.



Chaplin started all 12 games at left tackle for the Tigers this season. He was On3’s No. 4-ranked OT in the Transfer Portal, and No. 49-ranked player overall.



Prior to enrolling at <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/virginia-tech-hokies/">Virginia Tech</a> out of high school, Chaplin was ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 665 overall player in the <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/rankings/industry-player/football/2024/">2024 class</a>, according to the On3 Consensus. He was the No. 43-ranked OT in his class and the No. 8 overall player from the state of South Carolina, hailing from <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/whale-branch-seabrook-sc-3791/">Whale Branch</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">BREAKING: Auburn transfer OT Xavier Chaplin has committed to Florida State, <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteNakos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeteNakos</a> reports🍢<a href="https://t.co/ryS5BmsGf8">https://t.co/ryS5BmsGf8</a> <a href="https://t.co/KDxN6kKamA">pic.twitter.com/KDxN6kKamA</a>— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) <a href="https://twitter.com/TransferPortal/status/2009650546093998549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



“I learned that they plan on trying to use me to showcase my talent the best they could,” Chaplin <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/florida-state-seminoles/news/former-auburn-ol-xavier-chaplin-in-love-with-it-all-after-florida-state-visit/">told</a> <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/florida-state-seminoles/">WarChant</a>‘s <a href="https://www.on3.com/user/mattlaserre/">Matt LaSerre</a> following his visit to FSU on Thursday. “They’re trying to get me out. They want to just show how dominant I am as a player and as an offensive linemen.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-florida-state-looks-to-bounce-back-from-back-to-back-disappointing-seasons">Florida State looks to bounce back from back-to-back disappointing seasons</h2>



It was a disappointing season for the Florida State Seminoles, who were coming off their worst season in program history (2-10 in 2024). The year opened strongly with a marquee victory over No. 8 <a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/alabama-crimson-tide/">Alabama</a> in Tallahassee, which propelled them to a No. 14 ranking in the AP Poll Rankings.



Following that win, however, FSU went just 4-7 over its final 11 games and missed the postseason for the second consecutive season. Florida State administration made the decision to retain head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/mike-norvell-131695/">Mike Norvell</a>, who claimed that the program was ‘close’ near the end of the season.



“I believe that we are close,” Norvell said. “You lose six games, and it sucks. Like I said, we have absolutely not been close to the expectation of what I have for this team, for what I have and for what I know is the overall expectation of Florida State football, in general.”



“But I do believe in where we’re going. I do believe in some of the progress that we’ve been able to see, but it’s not consistent enough. Even in games, where there’s — it’s not like there’s games where we haven’t shown up. We’ve been able to gain yards. We’ve been able to hold teams to less. You go through all that.”



Across six seasons in Tallahassee, Norvell has led the ‘Noles to a 38-34 (22-26) record.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-florida-state-s-transfer-portal-additions">Florida State’s Transfer Portal Additions</h2>



Xavier Chaplin is the ninth <a href="https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/">Transfer Portal</a> addition for Florida State.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Fr. OL <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/paul-bowling-159412/">Paul Bowling</a> (<a href="https://www.on3.com/college/troy-trojans/">Troy</a>)</li>



<li>So. CB <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/nehemiah-chandler-176361/">Nehemiah Chandler</a> (<a href="https://www.on3.com/college/south-alabama-jaguars/">South Alabama</a>)</li>



<li>RS-Jr. OT Xavier Chaplin (Auburn)</li>



<li>Sr. QB <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/ashton-daniels-7869/">Ashton Daniels</a> (Auburn)</li>



<li>RS-So. OL <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/bradyn-joiner-145278/">Bradyn Joiner</a> (<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/purdue-boilermakers/">Purdue</a>)</li>



<li>Jr. DL <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/rylan-kennedy-174371/">Rylan Kennedy</a> (<a href="https://www.on3.com/sites/aggie-yell/">Texas A&M</a>)</li>



<li>RS-Sr. OT <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/nate-pabst-91323/">Nate Pabst</a> (<a href="https://www.on3.com/college/bowling-green-falcons/">Bowling Green</a>)</li>



<li>Jr. TE <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/demarius-hines-176388/">Demario Riles</a> (<a href="https://www.on3.com/college/east-carolina-pirates/">East Carolina</a>)</li>



<li>Jr. RB <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/tre-wisner-115088/">Tre Wisner</a> (<a href="https://www.on3.com/teams/texas-longhorns/">Texas</a>)</li>
</ul>



To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal <a href="https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/wire/football/">wire</a>. 



The <a href="https://www.instagram.com/transferportal/">On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/TransferPortal_">Twitter account</a> are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Auburn OT Xavier Chaplin

On3 Football

Auburn transfer OT Xavier Chaplin commits to Florida State

team image

The Main Board

Football

Basketball

Women's Basketball

Softball

Baseball

Teams

Fan Sites

Forums

Shows

team-link

College Football News

College Football Player Rankings

College Football Rankings

College Football Playoff

College Basketball News

Women's Sports

College

NIL News

NIL Valuation

NIL Deals

NIL Deal Tracker

Sports Business

Transfer Portal News

NCAA Transfer Portal News

NCAA Transfer Portal

Transfer Portal Rankings

Transfer Portal Team Rankings

Transfer Portal

NCAA Transfer Portal Home

Football Recruiting

Basketball Recruiting

Database

Team Rankings

Player Rankings

Industry Comparison

Commitments

Recruiting Prediction Machine

Recruiting

High School News

Schools

High School Search

Rankings

High School Rankings

Scores

High School Scores

High School

NFL Draft

NFL Draft News

Draft By Stars

College Draft History

College Draft Totals

NBA Draft

NBA Draft News

Draft

NASCAR

Culture

Sports Betting

About

On3 App

Advertise

Press

Contact

Alabama

Arizona State

Arizona

Arkansas

Auburn

Baylor

Boston College

California

Removed

Clemson

Colorado

Duke

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kentucky

Lettermen Row

Lettermen Lounge

Louisville

Maryland

Miami

Michigan State

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi State

Missouri

NC State

Nebraska

North Carolina

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rutgers

South Carolina

Stanford

Syracuse

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Texas

Texas Tech

UCLA

Utah

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

BamaOnLine

BOL Round Table

Inside Texas

IT Members Only

DawgsHQ

Dawg Walk

Scoop Duck

Recruiting & Sports

AuburnSports

The Corner

WeAreSC

GarryP's Trojan Huddle

The Wolverine

The Fort

The Lions Den

The Wolfpacker

The Wolves’ Den

GatorsOnline

Swamp Talk

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Albany

Alcorn State

Abilene Christian

Appalachian State

Akron

Army

Austin Peay

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Little Rock

Arkansas State

Air Force

Ball State

American

Wofford

Winthrop

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wichita State

Western Carolina

Volleyball

Gymnastics

Men's Lacrosse

Women's Lacrosse

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Women's Track

Men's Golf

Women's Golf

Men's Hockey

Women's Hockey

Men's Swimming

Women's Swimming

Wrestling

Men's Tennis

Women's Tennis

Annual $1

Annual Premium

Annual $1 

Monthly

Annual

Unlimited Access to This and All Articles.

Article (On3 Plus Rivals)

Forum (On3 Plus Rivals)

Intro

Join

College scoop, experts, and community - all in one.

Auburn transfer OT Xavier Chaplin commits to Florida State

2026 All-America Team

5-Star Countdown

Duke, Darian Mensah

NCAA files motion

Charles Bediako