The Florida State Seminole football team has added former Stephan F Austin offensive lineman Chimdia Nwaiwu via the transfer portal to their 2026 roster. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Nwaiwu played in 20 games during his three years at Stephen F Austin with 13 starts. He is 6-foot-5, 310 lbs with an 88-inch wingspan. In 2025, he was named first-team All-Southland Conference.
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Head coach Mike Norvell won five games last season and lost 35 players to the transfer portal. Nwaiwu is one of 24 players brought in from the transfer portal, and one of five offensive linemen added to the roster.
In 2025, Nwaiwu started all 13 games for Stephan F Austin, helping lead them to a 11-3 record and the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. Pro Football Focus gave him the highest grade of all the offensive tackles in the conference, including an 82.5 grade for his pass blocking. The athletic tackle caught a four-yard pass in a playoff game against eventual champion Montana.
In 2024, Nwaiwu played in seven games at left tackle with zero starts.
In 2023, Nwaiwu didn’t record a single snap during his redshirt freshman season.
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Florida State offensive line coach Herb Hand lost all five starters from last year’s team. Despite finishing No. 6 nationally in total offense with 472 yards per game, and No. 22 in scoring offense, Florida State only won five games last season, and two games the year before.
The other offensive linemen brought in from the transfer portal this season were: Bradyn Joiner/Purdue, Xavier Chaplin/Auburn, Paul Bowling/Troy and Nate Pabst/Bowling Green. All five players brought in by Florida State have starting experience and are likely to see significant playing time this upcoming season.
Florida State also acquired former All-SEC running back Tre Wisner from the Texas Longhorns and quarterback Ashtyn Daniels from Auburn. Both of these players are expected to start for Norvell, who is taking over playcalling duties for Florida State this season.
Nwaiwu is from Coppell, Texas, and attended Coppell High School. While in high school, he was named All-Conference and All-Area his senior year. His brother Febechi Nwaiwu was an All-American offensive lineman at Oklahoma in 2025.
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Florida State opens training camp on July 30 in Tallahassee. They open the season against New Mexico State on August 29 at home. For Norvell, this will be a prove-it year, as many expect this to be his final year as head coach if this season is not a success.
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