Florida A&M’s (FAMU) Kirk Dawkins was one of the best stories in college track this season. Now, he’s taking his talents to a Power Four program. After a record-breaking run through the 2025 season, Dawkins—who proudly carried the HBCU banner into the NCAA Outdoor Championships—has entered the transfer portal and committed to Iowa State University of the Big 12.
It’s the latest blow in what’s becoming an all-too-familiar pattern: elite HBCU track and field talent leaving for Power Four programs. But to understand why Dawkins’ departure matters, you have to understand what he meant to FAMU.
A Star is Born in Tallahassee
Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica—where sprinting is second nature and Olympic medals are a national currency—Dawkins grew up racing through the streets on errands for his parents. He honed his craft at Kingston College before taking a leap to the U.S. to compete at the University at Albany. The cold Northeast didn’t suit him, and after one season, Dawkins transferred to Florida A&M. That’s when everything changed.
With warmth on the track and in the community, Dawkins found his stride…