Florida State has dismissed freshman cornerback Chuck Kennon, the program's top-rated 2026 recruit, after his arrest in Hillsborough County on charges including aggravated fleeing to elude, false imprisonment and resisting an officer without violence. Kennon had played just one snap for the Seminoles this season before the arrest ended his Florida State career almost as soon as it began.
A university spokesman said Kennon was dismissed for conduct detrimental to the team, according to a report cited by MassLive. The arrest stemmed from an incident that occurred on Sunday, Oct. 11, according to a report from ChopChat. Kennon, who turned himself in, was arrested at 9:27 p.m. Monday, and his lawyers filed a plea of not guilty Tuesday in Tampa, per a report from UPI.
A High-Speed Chase Precedes the Charges
According to a criminal report affidavit cited by the same UPI report, a Dodge Durango associated with Kennon reached speeds of more than 150 mph during a police chase. ESPN identifies the charges as a second-degree felony for aggravated fleeing to elude, a third-degree felony for false imprisonment and a misdemeanor for resisting an officer without violence, as reported by ESPN. The aggravated-fleeing charge is a second-degree felony.
Kennon was no longer listed on Florida State's roster as of Tuesday morning, per the same ESPN account. On3 reports that Kennon was arrested Monday in Hillsborough County and charged with aggravated fleeing to elude, false imprisonment and resisting an officer without violence, confirming the trio of charges detailed elsewhere.
From Bradenton Standout to One Snap in Tallahassee
Kennon was Florida State's top prospect in its 2026 recruiting class. He was a five-star prospect ranked No. 56 overall in ESPN's 2026 class rankings, the outlet reported.
He played for Booker High School from 2023 through 2025 and helped the team reach the FHSAA Class 3A state semifinals as a senior, Your Observer reported. Kennon signed with Florida State over offers from Georgia, Florida, Miami and several other programs, according to On3's reporting. Despite that pedigree, Kennon played only one snap for the Seminoles this season, on Oct. 3 against Virginia, per ESPN.
A Program Still Searching for Stability
The dismissal lands amid a rough stretch for Florida State, which entered its game at rival Miami with a 3-3 overall record, per ESPN's reporting.
Florida State's most recent outings included a 38-7 win over Virginia on Oct. 3 and a 44-20 loss at Louisville on Oct. 9, according to the seed reporting from MassLive. Head coach Mike Norvell now must navigate the fallout from losing his highest-rated incoming signee just as the Seminoles try to right a season that has included four losing campaigns in his first six years at the helm.
