K.J. Kirkland holds the FS · Backup spot in Florida State Seminoles’s safety room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

K.J. Kirkland is a 6'1", 209-pound safety from Jacksonville, Florida who attends Florida State. A three-star recruit ranked 515th nationally in the 2023 class, Kirkland made his collegiate debut in 2023 before redshirting that season. In 2024, he appeared in all 12 games with nine starts and recorded 46 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, and two pass breakups, earning the Devaughn Darling Award as Defensive Freshman of the Year. During the 2025 season, Kirkland appeared in 12 games with four starts, posting 31 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sacks while also returning one punt for 25 yards. He graduated in Spring 2026 with a degree in recreation and tourism management.

Florida State2023 — present