FSU dismisses freshman CB Chuck Kennon, its top-rated 2026 signee

Florida State has dismissed freshman cornerback Chuck Kennon for "conduct detrimental to the team," the school confirmed Tuesday, ESPN reported. Kennon was no longer listed on FSU's roster Tuesday morning.

Who he is

The Sarasota native was the Seminoles' top-rated signee in the 2026 class and the No. 56 overall recruit in the ESPN 300. He chose FSU over Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami and Oregon, and played one snap this season, on Oct. 3 against Virginia, per ESPN.

The arrest

Kennon, 18, was arrested in Hillsborough County on charges of aggravated fleeing to elude and false imprisonment, both felonies, plus misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence, according to a Florida Highway Patrol arrest affidavit obtained by WCTV. He turned himself in Monday, Oct. 12, WCTV reported.

The affidavit says the incident began at about 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, near State Road 60 and South Maydell Drive in Hillsborough County, when a deputy clocked a black Dodge Durango going 70 mph in a 50 mph zone. When troopers tried to stop it, the SUV ran a red light and kept pulling away even as a trooper's patrol car maxed out at 140 mph, according to WCTV. The SUV topped 150 mph, ESPN reported. After about seven minutes the Durango stopped with a flat front tire, and Kennon ran from it on foot, WCTV reported.

Troopers later found a female passenger with cuts on her arm. She told them she was "in fear for her life" and had asked Kennon "well over 10 times to stop the car because she was scared and did not want to get hurt," according to the affidavit as reported by WCTV. A judge set bond at $8,000 across the three counts and ordered Kennon to have no contact with the woman and not to leave Hillsborough County, WCTV reported. The charges are accusations, and Kennon has not been convicted.

The Tallahassee Democrat also reported the arrest.

What it means Saturday

The move thins a secondary that heads to No. 3 Miami this weekend, the Democrat noted.

Updated Oct. 17: An earlier version of this story said the incident happened Sunday. The Florida Highway Patrol affidavit dates it to about 2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. This version adds details from the affidavit as reported by WCTV and ESPN.

Sources: ESPN, Tallahassee Democrat, UPI, Liam Rooney on X, WCTV, ESPN (Oct. 16)