Florida State Dismisses Chuck Kennon After Arrest in Florida

Florida State has dismissed freshman cornerback Chuck Kennon following his arrest in Hillsborough County, Florida, on charges stemming from an incident reported on Sunday. The Seminoles confirmed the roster decision on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, citing conduct detrimental to the team, as the program prepares for its rivalry game against Miami.

According to ESPN, Kennon faces a second-degree felony charge of aggravated fleeing to elude, a third-degree felony charge of false imprisonment, and a misdemeanor charge of resisting an officer without violence. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office provided details of the arrest, according to reports from Florida State-focused outlet Tomahawk Nation.

Kennon was no longer listed on Florida State's roster by Tuesday morning. The dismissal removes a highly rated defensive back from a Seminoles team that entered the week with a 3-3 overall record and a 1-2 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play, according to ESPN.

A Florida State spokesperson confirmed the reason for the decision in a statement to ESPN.

"conduct detrimental to the team" the school cited as the reason for Kennon's dismissal, according to ESPN.

The Sarasota, Florida, native was the highest-rated signee in Florida State's 2026 recruiting class, according to Tomahawk Nation. ESPN ranked him No. 56 overall in its 2026 ESPN 300 and sixth among cornerbacks in that class.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound defensive back played both receiver and defensive back at the high school level. He chose Florida State over several prominent programs, including Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami and Oregon.

Despite his recruiting profile, Kennon appeared in only one play for the Seminoles this season. ESPN reported that his lone snap came during Florida State's 38-7 victory over Virginia on October 3.

The roster move comes as Florida State prepares to face Miami on Saturday, October 17, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Eastern time, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Florida State enters the rivalry matchup after a 44-20 loss at Louisville on October 9. The Seminoles had a chance to take a 17-0 lead but failed to convert on fourth-and-goal, then surrendered 35 consecutive points, according to Yahoo Sports.

The program has struggled since winning the ACC championship in 2023. ESPN reported that Florida State has gone 4-15 in conference games since that title and has not won a regular-season road game since defeating Florida on November 25, 2023.

Head coach Mike Norvell has recorded a 10-21 mark over the period highlighted by Yahoo Sports, while his seven-season tenure at Florida State stands at 41-37, according to the supplied image caption. The athletic department is also facing financial pressure, with ESPN's Pete Thamel reporting on October 8 that it carries more than $430 million in debt.

Florida State fired athletic director Mike Alford on September 14, and Yahoo Sports reported that uncertainty remains over Norvell's future because a reported buyout would cost the school nearly $51 million. The Seminoles are scheduled to host Clemson on October 31 after a bye week on October 24.