UPDATE: Seminoles sign veteran LB transfer Elijah Herring

The Florida State Seminoles landed their 15th transfer of this cycle and second of the day as veteran linebacker Elijah Herring signed with the Seminoles on Sunday.

Herring played this past season at Memphis after starting his college career at Tennessee.

“I’m excited to add Elijah to our program,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said in a release from the Seminoles. “He is an experienced playmaker who has performed at a high level throughout his college career. He brings versatility to the linebacker position with his ability to attack all over the field. Elijah has a high football IQ that is evident with his decision making and leadership, and I’m excited to see his contributions to our team.”

Here is Herring’s bio from FSU:

Elijah Herring | LB | 6-2 | 230 | Newnan, Ga. | Riverdale (Tenn.) High School/Memphis/Tennessee

Appeared in 37 games with 23 starts over past three seasons with Memphis (2024) and Tennessee (2022-23)…recorded 151 tackles, including 14.0 tackles for loss with 6.0 sacks, two interceptions, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles…registered 60 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss with 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery over 11 games with Tigers in 2024…made career-high 10 tackles, one forced fumble and one interception in 2024 Frisco Bowl victory against West Virginia…interception came on West Virginia’s final offensive play with Mountaineers looking for go-ahead touchdown in 42-37 win…named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week after making eight tackles, 2.0 for loss with 1.0 sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in win vs. Troy…named to AAC Honor Roll with 10 tackles, 2.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks in win over Middle Tennessee State…played 26 games with Tennessee from 2022-23, ending with 91 tackles, 6.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks…had career-best 80 tackles over 12 starts for Volunteers in 2023…set career high with 2.0 sacks as true freshman vs. Akron in 2022…consensus three-star recruit out of Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee…rated as No. 21 player in Tennessee on 247Sports Composite…made 67 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in senior season.

Earlier on Sunday, Florida State landed former Tennessee defensive lineman Jayson Jenkins.

*ALSO SEE: Transfer Recruiting Nuggets: FSU closes in on final targets

Herring visited Florida State on Saturday and spoke at length about this visit below:

EARLIER REPORT

Florida State hosted former Tennessee and Memphis linebacker Elijah Herring for a quick one-day visit on Saturday, and he has quickly become a top portal target for the Seminoles.

This is Herring’s second time in the portal, as he transferred from Tennessee to Memphis last spring. During that window, Florida State kicked the tires on Herring but ultimately ended up with Auburn linebacker transfer Cam Riley instead.

“It was a great visit with the staff,” Herring said of Saturday’s visit. “Just me and everybody seeing the facilities, seeing the new facility that they are building. Everything’s beautiful.”

Herring actually led Tennessee in tackles during the 2023 season with 80 total stops, four for loss and half a sack.

At Memphis in 2024, Herring played in 11 games and totaled 60 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.

What really stood out to the Tennessee native during his Florida State visit was his conversation with new defensive coordinator Tony White. He said he learned more about the Seminoles’ new 3-3-5 scheme and how it compared to what he ran at Memphis.

“It’s really similar from what I’m coming from,” Herring said. “So everything was clicking, everything, looked similar.”

The former SEC defender said he would likely play middle linebacker for Florida State, and that is something else that attracts him to the ‘Noles.

During his visit, Herring also had conversations with linebackers coach John Papuchis and head coach Mike Norvell. In his conversation with Norvell, much more than football was discussed.

“We just talked about life,” Herring said. “How he sees me fit in this program, how he sees me playing on the field and just working with this Tallahassee community and just bringing it back up.”

With the 6-foot-2, 230-pound portal prospect only having one year of eligibility remaining, leadership in the linebacker room was another major topic of discussion throughout the day.

Herring said he still plans to visit Cal following his Florida State visit, as was previously planned. He is also scheduling a visit with Syracuse for Jan. 7, but that is not yet set in stone. A decision will likely come at the end of next week.

One final highlight of the Florida State visit for Herring was spending time with former Tennessee teammates Jayson Jenkins and Squirrel White, both of whom were also visiting FSU.

“It was great. It brought back our freshman year memories,” Herring said. “You know, a lot of great memories with those guys. So it was a great time seeing them, just getting talk to them again. And hopefully we can do something together.”

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