Florida State University announced the addition of Jackson McKenzie, a standout infielder who spent the past season at Florida A&M, as part of a high‑profile transfer that has drawn attention across the college baseball landscape.
McKenzie posted a .397 batting average with 12 home runs and 52 runs batted in during the 2025 campaign, a performance that helped FAMU reach the SWAC Tournament final and earn a reputation as one of the most dynamic hitters in the conference.
The move also brings the player back into the orbit of Jamey Shouppe, who spent more than two decades as an assistant and recruiting coordinator at Florida State before returning to lead the Rattlers program at his alma mater.
Shouppe’s stint at the Atlantic Coast was marked by a long‑standing relationship with the university, yet he was never appointed head coach, a decision that ultimately led to the hiring of Mike Martin Jr., who was dismissed in 2022 after two consecutive regional failures.
The Coaching Crossroads at Florida State
Under Shouppe’s guidance, Florida A&M has seen a resurgence, climbing into contention within the MEAC and SWAC and even hitting for the cycle in the 2026 SWAC Tournament against Southern.
The transfer underscores how the portal and name, image, and likeness opportunities are reshaping the calculus for HBCU programs, offering both a pathway to greater exposure and a risk of losing key talent to traditionally dominant programs.
As the Seminoles integrate McKenzie into their lineup, the storyline will likely pivot to how the team leverages his bat in upcoming ACC matchups, while the broader conversation about talent retention at historically Black institutions continues to evolve.