Eight Players Who Deserve More Playing Time In Florida State's Final Eight Regular Season Games

This upcoming stretch could provide the Seminoles with an opportunity to see if there are younger or lesser-used players on the roster who could take on bigger roles.

Florida State is 4-0 and is in control of its own fate moving forward after being ranked in the top five for five consecutive weeks. The Seminoles are climbing in the right direction with eight games remaining in the regular season but there is still plenty of room for improvement on both sides of the ball.

READ MORE: Mike Norvell Provides Injury Updates On Robert Scott, Akeem Dent, And Other Seminoles

The upcoming stretch will provide FSU with opportunities to display the type of dominance that is necessary for a potential College Football Playoff contender. That means the Seminoles should also be able to go deeper into the roster to see if there are younger or lesser-used players who could take on bigger roles as the season progresses.

Here are eight players who deserve more playing time during the final eight games of the regular season.

1. Rodney Hill, Running Back

The Seminoles planned to lean on their rushing attack but that hasn't produced fruitful results thus far. The team is averaging 147.8 yards on the ground through four games, down 66.3 yards per contest (214.1 yards per game in 2022) compared to last season. Something has got to give and it starts at the top of the rotation with redshirt junior Trey Benson.

Benson isn't nearly as effective as he was last season and appears to be avoiding contact after breaking tackles at a record rate in 2022. Something clearly is wrong as he's only averaging 47.25 rushing yards per game. Benson's average yards per attempt has dropped from 6.4 to 4.7.

FSU should consider further diversifying the distribution of carries in the backfield to see if that can provide a spark in the running attack. Redshirt freshman Rodney Hill has been productive with his work behind Benson in the rotation. Hill has rushed 18 times for 103 yards and is averaging 5.7 yards per rush.

It's worth noting that he has only played 41 snaps compared to triple-digit snaps for Benson (114) and redshirt junior running back Lawrance Toafili (109).

2. Markeston Douglas, Tight End

Speaking of getting the running attack going, blocking has been an issue at times with an influx of new skill players and an ever-changing offensive line. The lack of continuity and game reps have led to visible struggles, evidenced by Florida State's rushing performance dropping from No. 13 to No. 78 in the country despite the amount of talent in the lineup.

One way to provide a boost in carving out some extra yards on the ground could be inserting redshirt junior tight end Markeston Douglas into the lineup more frequently. While Jaheim Bell and Kyle Morlock have proven to be more adept threats as receivers, both have missed assignments at times in the blocking game. Morlock, in particular, is still getting the nuances and timing down in Florida State's counter actions.

Douglas holds a 69.0 run-blocking grade per PFF. That's much higher than Bell (58.6), Morlock (42.2), and even some of the offensive linemen on the team. Standing at 6-foot-4, 285-pounds, Douglas provides a steady presence as a blocker and is better than advertised as a pass-catcher despite his drop during the win against Clemson.

3. Darion Williamson, Wide Receiver

There's no denying that Florida State has two of the best wide receivers in the country. The stats that Keon Coleman (17 catches for 256 yards and six touchdowns) and Johnny Wilson (16 catches for 303 yards) have put up during the first four games have reflected that. Outside of that, however, the unit has failed to make much of an impact as no other wide receiver has more than 36 receiving yards.

That's going to need to change as the season progresses as defenses explore different ways to limit Coleman and Wilson. Kentron Poitier and Ja'Khi Douglas are working their way back from injuries but there are plenty of other talented players in the room. Redshirt junior wide receiver Darion Williamson has struggled with injuries throughout his career but has displayed tantalizing potential when he has been on the field.

It might be time to give him a bigger opportunity moving forward to see if he can unlock the consistency to be a playmaker any given Saturday. Williamson has played the fourth-most snaps (43) at wide receiver but he checks in well behind Coleman (212) and Wilson (175) in game reps. Williamson has caught three passes for 34 yards and a touchdown this season. 

4. Hykeem Williams, Wide Receiver

Every now and then, you've got to take a risk that could end up paying off with a big reward. Florida State has plenty of playmakers across the roster, both proven and unproven. Former five-star prospect Hykeem Williams has a ton of potential but is still settling in at the college level. Williams has a ways to go as a route-runner but his pure talent and effort are undeniable.

The top-rated signee in Florida State's 2022 class has been growing more consistent during practice. Could that lead the coaching staff to let him loose during a few games and see what he's made of? Williams has only played 34 snaps on offense in three games and didn't see the field at Clemson.

He's due for a shot, even if it's just for his presence in the running game. Williams has been impactful on a blocker on the outside, creating way on a couple of big plays on the ground during wins against LSU and Southern Miss. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound wide receiver can hold his own and is extremely physical.

5. Darius Washington, Offensive Lineman

Somehow, someway, redshirt junior offensive lineman Darius Washington is pushing Jaheim Bell to be the most versatile player on Florida State's high-powered offense. Washington has started two games at center while Maurice Smith was dealing with an injury. He's also earned reps at right tackle this season while spending time at the other tackle spot and along the interior during his time in Tallahassee.

To say the least, Washington is a chess piece and there's no doubt that he's one of the five most valuable offensive linemen on the roster. However, with Smith back in the lineup and left tackle Robert Scott making progress in his return, Washington could soon find himself on the outside looking in of the starting lineup if the Seminoles stick with the same combination upfront.

That might be a mistake as his experience in the system and chemistry playing alongside Scott, Smith, and D'Mitri Emmanuel could prove paramount in turning around Florida State's middling rushing attack. The Seminoles shouldn't be afraid to experiment with their front but there's no reason to overthink it either.

6. Malcolm Ray, Defensive Tackle

It's hard to say that anyone should play more in Florida State's interior defensive line rotation. After all, there is a ton of talent throughout the two-deep that includes Fabien Lovett, Braden Fiske, Joshua Farmer, Dennis Briggs, and Malcolm Ray. However, at least situationally, one player among the group that has earned more snaps is the reliable veteran and redshirt junior, Malcolm Ray.

Truthfully, he was mostly an afterthought along the defensive line after missing the spring due to an injury. There was a belief that Ray might find himself passed up with incoming transfers like Fiske and Darrell Jackson alongside Lovett and Briggs returning plus the growth of Farmer. Instead, he's been a steady performer in the middle who is flying somewhat under the radar.

Ray has graded out at 75.3 as a run defender according to PFF. That is second amongst the defensive tackles behind Lovett (77.6). Ray had his best performance of the season against Clemson, tying for the fifth-best overall grade (73.8) on the team while recording three tackles with a 0% missed tackle percentage.

7. Blake Nichelson, Linebacker

The Seminoles have a strong core of linebackers behind the veteran combination of Tatum Bethune, Kalen DeLoach, and DJ Lundy. The trio are earning the bulk of playing time at the position as all three have played 115+ snaps on defense. With that being said, there is still room for another face in the rotation as redshirt freshman Omar Graham Jr. has had his work cut out for him as far as positioning at times.

True freshman Blake Nichelson is another newcomer that is beginning to see the light turn on early in his career. Head coach Mike Norvell has high hopes for the West Coast 'Nole and believes that he'll be a great linebacker for Florida State as long as he continues to develop.

More playing time might be enough to spark Nichelson to progress even faster. He's only played 24 snaps in two games on defense but he holds the highest tackling grade on the team (79.8). Nichelson nearly pulled off an athletic interception during the home opening win against Southern Miss.

8. Conrad Hussey, Safety

There has been plenty of inconsistency across Florida State's defensive backfield during the first third of the regular season. That starts with the safeties as the loss of Jammie Robinson has been evident. Couple that with an injury to Akeem Dent and unexpected struggles from Kevin Knowles as he transitions to a new position and things can quickly begin to spiral.

The Seminoles need to find a ball hawk that can begin to settle things down and it might be time to turn to true freshman Conrad Hussey. He didn't enroll until the summer but he exploded on the scene during the preseason by leading the team in interceptions. For some reason, Hussey consistently seems to find himself around the football.

Hussey ranks second on the team in pass coverage with a 77.4 grade per PFF. That's a significantly better grade than Shyheim Brown (67.8), Ashlynd Barler (61.8), Knowles (68.9), and Dent (58.1). Hussey only recorded five defensive snaps against Boston College and didn't play the following week in the win over Clemson. He's due for an uptick that could begin unlocking his full skill set at the college.

---

READ MORE: Florida State Seminoles Release Depth Chart For ACC Matchup Against Virginia Tech Hokies

Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the 2023 season.

Follow NoleGameday on Twitter and Facebook