The NCAA Transfer Portal continues to play a significant role in shaping college football, offering some players a fresh start while presenting challenges for others. In 2025, former Florida State quarterback AJ Duffy will be suiting up for his third team in three seasons. After entering the NCAA Transfer Portal again in December, Duffy has decided to continue his career at the Division II level with the University of New Haven.
New Haven, which finished the previous season with an 8-3 record and made an appearance in the NCAA D2 playoffs before bowing out in the first round, provides a fresh opportunity for Duffy. The program is set to lose its starting quarterback, Daelen Menard, to graduation, creating a vacancy that Duffy can compete to fill immediately. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback is expected to have two years of eligibility remaining.
Duffy’s 2023 season at San Diego State was uneventful, as he did not appear in any games. His collegiate journey began at Florida State, where he arrived as a four-star recruit in the 2022 class. A native of California, Duffy played his senior high school season at IMG Academy and participated in prestigious events like the Elite 11 Finals and the Under Armour All-America Game. He committed to Florida State under the recruitment of former offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham and stayed with the team even after Dillingham moved to Oregon.
During his time with the Seminoles, Duffy served as a backup quarterback to Jordan Travis, Tate Rodemaker, and Brock Glenn. In 2022, he played in three games, completing two of seven passes for 26 yards and one touchdown while rushing once for five yards. Though he was part of the 2023 ACC Championship-winning team and earned recognition as a Seminole Scholar and an ACC Honor Roll member, Duffy struggled to establish consistency and command in his role, ultimately limiting his development. This contributed to a significant reshuffling of Florida State’s quarterback room over the past two years, leaving Brock Glenn as the only scholarship quarterback remaining from the 2023 roster.
Looking ahead to 2025, Florida State’s quarterback lineup consists of senior Thomas Castellanos, redshirt sophomores Brock Glenn and Michael Grant, redshirt freshman Trever Jackson, and true freshman Kevin Sperry.
Duffy’s decision to transfer marks another chapter in his journey, as he seeks to make an impact at New Haven and continue his development as a quarterback.