The 2026 Florida State Position Preview: Tight Ends. We wrap up our Florida State Position Preview series on offense, closing with the tight ends.
It is a revamped tight end room for the Seminoles, as four newcomers join the position and three significant contributors depart. No. 4 target Randy Pittman Jr. transferred to ACC foe, SMU after hauling in 23 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns. FSU utilized Pittman a lot to activate the motion sets in 2025, playing a fullback/TE hybrid role that led to him scoring three rushing touchdowns.
Despite flashing in some pivotal moments, as seen when he caught the game-tying touchdown pass against Virginia, Pittman at times failed to be consistent. Amaree Williams is another departing contributor, seeing action in 12 games as both a tight end and a defensive lineman. Williams seemed poised to take a step forward in his development last year, but switched to defense late in the season.
With Markeston Douglas also gone as a major run-blocking piece for the Florida State offense, new faces will have to rise to the occasion in the fall.
2026 Florida State Position Preview: Tight Ends
Key Returners
Landen Thomas is the top returning piece at tight end for FSU. In his first season with Florida State (2024), Thomas started seven games and tallied 14 catches for 173 yards and a score. His size at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds proved difficult to match up against and helped Thomas earn the Devaughn Darling Award, which is Freshman of the Year for the Seminoles.
Production dipped for Thomas last fall, as he had 35 receiving yards and two touchdowns. With Pittman, Williams, and Douglas all gone, he will have an opportunity to prove that 2024 wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
Second-year tight end Chase Loftin is a former four-star recruit who ranked as the No. 2 prospect from Nebraska in the Class of 2025. At Millard South High School, Loftin produced at a high level during his senior campaign, recording 57 receptions for 837 yards and 12 touchdowns.
A multi-sport athlete who clocked a 11.75 in the 100-meter dash and also posted a 20-5 effort in the long jump, Loftin has the makeup to be a staple in the FSU tight end rotation. While it will be difficult to outdo Thomas, Loftin appears to have the advantage over the more experienced Greyson Labiad, who saw action in a reserve role last season.
Newcomers
Splash transfer addition Desirrio Riles headlines the list of newcomers at tight end. Riles had a career-best season in 2025, totaling 28 catches for 362 yards and two touchdowns at East Carolina. Riles carries with him significant experience, as he has played in 37 career games with 15 starts.
His experience, coupled with his production last season, suggests that he will start for FSU this fall, as he is projected to serve a similar role to Pittman.
The trio of Corbyn Fordham, Drew Hardwick, and Xavier Tiller makes up the freshman additions to the tight end room. Fordham and Tiller are both high-profile players with four-star biddings out of high school.
Fordham initially committed to Ohio State before flipping his commitment to Florida State on October 3rd after an official visit. At 6′-4″, 231 pounds, Fordham takes pride in run blocking, which should be a nice complement to the tight ends who are primarily receiving threats.
In four seasons at Langston Hughes, Tiller made 70 catches for 1,054 yards and 19 touchdowns. He chose FSU over offers from Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State, among others.
First-team All-Region tight end Drew Hardwick gives Florida State another threat at tight end, totaling 324 receiving yards as a senior at Cambridge High School.
Outlook
Though Riles and Thomas project to control the tight end rotation heading into 2026, a wave of freshmen and some returning pieces hope to bolster the lineup and build valuable depth. A reliable run blocker will have to emerge in order to activate some of the sets head coach Mike Norvell wants to employ next season.
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