TALLAHASSEE — Auburn offensive tackle transfer Xavier Chaplin will be choosing between two schools after his visit to Florida State. The 6-foot-7, 348-pound left tackle wrapped up his visit with the Seminoles on Thursday afternoon and shared at that time that he hopes to decide in the next 48 hours between FSU and Kentucky, both of whom he visited.
“It was great,” Chaplin said. “I learned that they plan on trying to use me to showcase my talent the best they could. They are trying to get me out in open space. They want to show how dominant I am as a player and as an offensive lineman.”
He spoke specifically about spending time with offensive line coach Herb Hand, though he also dealt with head coach Mike Norvell, offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, and offensive line assistant coach Dmitri Emmanuel, as well as others on the visit.
“I talked to him a little bit before I showed up here. But when I actually came in, this was my first time like actually seeing the type of person he is, the type of coach he is, and I’m in love with it all.”
As the visit wrapped, he exited the football facility with Malzahn, who was putting in a final word for the Seminoles on the visit.
“He just wants me to make the best decision for me,” he said. “They’re not trying to force me to do anything I don’t want to do. They want it to be purely my decision off of what I’ve seen and what I felt here.”
As mentioned, he is now in decision mode.
“Probably the next 48 hours,” Chaplin said. “No more visits.”
He also confirmed that it was between the Seminoles and Wildcats, both of whom he visited this week.
Chaplin has familiarity with a couple of incoming transfers for FSU. He met and became friends with Bradyn Joiner when he was at Auburn – where Joiner was in the spring prior to his transfer to Purdue. He also knows incoming quarterback Ashton Daniels, who he blocked for in numerous games last season.
“Yes, that matters a lot to me because that is who makes the o-line look good for real. The quarterback getting the ball out quick, he not getting dirty, then everything’s good,” Chaplin said. “They probably wondering like who is protecting him and why is he doing so good.”
He started all 12 games at Auburn this past season. He earned a grade of 90 percent or higher in five games, including a season-high 97 percent mark vs. Missouri (10/18) according to Auburn’s official bio. He totaled 823 snaps per Pro Football Focus and finished with a 56.6 PFF grade on the season. He was a better pass blocker (71.1 grade) than run blocker (56.1) and was a bit penalty prone with 12 flags called on him last season. He gave up three sacks, three quarterback hits and 17 pressures, per PFF.
Prior to Auburn, Chaplin attended Virginia Tech. He started 12 games at tackle for the Hokies in 2024, earning honorable mention all-ACC honors. He was ACC offensive lineman of week vs. Boston College during the 2024 season. In 2023, he was a third team All-American, when he started all 13 games, allowing only 5 sacks in 813 snaps. He played in one game in 2022.
He is currently ranked as the No. 67 overall transfer and No. 7 offensive tackle in the NCAA Transfer Portal.
He is originally from Beaufort, S.C. He attended Whale Branch High School.