Florida State has cut ties with Chuck Kennon, the prized freshman cornerback whose promising college football career has been thrown into uncertainty following his arrest on three criminal charges.
The university confirmed on Tuesday, October 13, that Kennon had been dismissed from the football program for conduct detrimental to the team.
Is Jeremiah Smith the best wide receiver in college football history?
The decision came after an incident in Tampa over the weekend that allegedly involved a dangerous police pursuit, reckless driving and a female passenger who told authorities she had repeatedly asked to leave the vehicle. Kennon is facing charges, and the allegations have not been established as facts in court.
According to reporting by UPI, a Florida Highway Patrol trooper and a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputy were conducting speed enforcement when a Dodge Durango was recorded travelling at 79 mph in a 50-mph zone during the early hours of the incident.
What followed was considerably more serious than a speeding stop. Authorities allege that the vehicle accelerated to speeds exceeding 150 mph, ran a red light and struck a curb during the pursuit.
The SUV eventually stopped after sustaining a flat tire, and an officer reportedly saw the driver run towards a nearby industrial facility.
Police later located Kennon's phone inside the vehicle. A woman who had been travelling with him reportedly had cuts on her arm and told investigators that she had left Tampa's Ybor City area with Kennon. She alleged that she asked him more than 10 times to let her out as his driving became increasingly dangerous.
Kennon, who is from Sarasota, turned himself in on Monday. Court records cited by news outlets list three charges against him: aggravated fleeing to elude, classified as a second-degree felony; false imprisonment, a third-degree felony; and resisting an officer without violence, a misdemeanor.
Reports published on Tuesday said he remained in custody in Hillsborough County. The charges represent allegations, and the legal process will determine the outcome of the case.
From Florida State's top recruit to a sudden departure
The consequences for Kennon's football future were immediate. Florida State removed him from its roster after confirming his dismissal, ending his involvement with the Seminoles less than two months into the 2026 season.
The decision is particularly striking because of the expectations that surrounded his arrival in Tallahassee. Kennon was one of the standout names in Florida State's 2026 recruiting class and had attracted considerable attention as a defensive prospect.
According to recruiting coverage, he was ranked among the nation's leading recruits and was considered one of the top cornerbacks in his class. He chose the Seminoles despite receiving interest from numerous other college programs, including Texas, Louisville and Texas A&M.
Kennon, listed at 6-foot-2 and 186 pounds, had the physical profile to develop into a significant contributor in Florida State's secondary. His recruitment also represented an important success for the program, which had worked to bring highly rated defensive talent to Tallahassee.
His on-field contribution, however, had been limited so far. Kennon appeared in only one game, entering late during Florida State's 38-7 victory over Virginia on October 3. He did not record any statistics in that appearance.
Although his role was still developing, his reputation as a recruit meant that the potential loss was about more than the snaps he had played to date.
The dismissal does not itself decide Kennon's criminal case, nor does it establish what happened during every stage of the reported pursuit. It does, however, mean that his immediate path with Florida State has ended while he faces the consequences of the allegations.