Five Position Battles on Florida State's roster that are worth tracking this spring
Spring football is in the air as Florida State prepares to return to the practice fields on Monday to open a period that will include 15 practices over the next five weeks. That includes time off for spring break which has been scheduled by the university for March 11-19.
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Plenty of competition is expected to bubble up as returning players, transfers, and true freshmen battle for starting spots or leap into the rotation. That could lead to some intriguing outcomes over the next couple of weeks as Seminoles try to position themselves going into fall camp.
Here are five crucial position battles that are worth tracking this spring.
1. Offensive Line
Florida State's offensive line is in a unique situation as the team legitimately has ten or more players that are fighting to earn playing time. The Seminoles are bringing back five players - Robert Scott, Maurice Smith, D'Mitri Emmanuel, Darius Washington, and Bless Harris - who started a combined 44 games last year. The team is also adding three quality transfers that could get immediately into the mix (Jeremiah Byers, Casey Roddick, Keiondre Jones) and has a couple of underclassmen (Julian Armella, Jaylen Early, Bryson Estes) that have made progress.
What makes this room so tough to project is that there is a ton of versatility. Multiple players have the ability to play different positions on the offensive line. That aspect should make this process even more fun for offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins and his staff.
At this time, Robert Scott (LT), D'Mitri Emmanuel (RG), and Maurice Smith (C) seem to be in the best position to retain their starting roles. Emmanuel is still waiting on a waiver for next year while Smith will face competition from Roddick, who can also play guard. Early and Armella will keep Scott honest. Washington, Harris, and Roddick can play either inside or outside. Jones will probably slot in at guard.
2. Wide Receiver
There's a lot to like about what the Seminoles are bringing back out wide despite the losses of Ontaria Wilson and Malik McClain. Obviously, breakout star and leading receiver, Johnny Wilson is back for another year to improve his consistency. However, outside of Wilson, there are a lot of pieces to like across the unit.
Veteran Mycah Pittman will have an opportunity to retain his starting role in the slot. He was consistent in 2022 but not very explosive, averaging a career-low 10.3 yards per catch. That means the door is open for players such as Ja'Khi Douglas and Winston Wright to make a run at the job. Both were hampered by injuries a season ago, including Wright, who was unable to suit up for a game. Head Coach Mike Norvell noted Wright has no limitations to begin the spring.
Kentron Poitier and Darion Williamson have both shown promise and might battle for a starting role opposite of Johnny Wilson. Poitier has big play ability while Williamson might be a future star if he can stay healthy. Deuce Spann is a year into the system and is promising while Hykeem Williams and Vandrevius Jacobs will get a chance to make a case to play early in their careers.
3. Defensive Tackle
The Seminoles legitimately have seven players that are grappling for two starting spots. There are five returners - Fabien Lovett, Dennis Briggs, Joshua Farmer, Malcolm Ray, and Daniel Lyons - that are in the mix along with two of the best transfers on the market - Braden Fiske and Darrell Jackson. This competition could go in a variety of ways but the most likely outcome is that Lovett and Fiske secure starting roles.
Behind that, the battle to get into the rotation is a toss-up. Jackson and Farmer look the best that they physically have in their college careers to this point. Briggs seems like he'll be settling in along the interior to aid the pass rush after bouncing around over the last couple of years. Ray has been in the rotation over the last two years but was hampered by injuries in 2022. Lyons was the team's top-graded defensive tackle last season according to PFF and might step into a bigger role.
The unit struggled at times last season, especially when Lovett was out of the lineup. The added depth, growing youth, and returning talent make for a strong combination that should mitigate issues if the coaching staff has to go deeper into the roster in 2023.
4. Defensive Backfield
Florida State brings in new defensive backs coach Patrick Surtain Sr, who takes over a unit that is returning a lot of experience alongside a top transfer in cornerback Fentrell Cypress II. The Seminoles have five cornerbacks who were in the rotation last season, Renardo Green, Jarrian Jones, Greedy Vance, Kevin Knowles, and Azareye'h Thomas but Cypress will instantly jump into the top of the rotation and is likely a starter.
There are more questions at safety with Jammie Robinson moving on to the NFL. The Seminoles are bringing back veteran Akeem Dent and rising star Shyheim Brown while Omarion Cooper shifts to the back end of the defense following a sophomore slump. Travis Jay might get into that mix after not appearing in a game last season.
Dent might not be fully healthy out of the gate while Brown is working to be a full-time starter. The spring will be important for Cooper and Jay to begin re-establishing themselves.
5. Running Back
Obviously, Trey Benson and Lawrance Toafili are back to play major roles in the success of the running backs. With that being said, Florida State has a big hole to fill with Treshaun Ward moving on and the two players with the best shot to replace him are redshirt junior Caziah Holmes and redshirt freshman Rodney Hill.
Holmes transferred to FSU last season and spent the fall contributing to the practice squad, earning co-scout team player of the year honors. Hill showed promise while learning behind Benson, Toafili, and Ward. He's got the speed, vision, explosiveness, and physicality to be a future star with the Seminoles.
It won't come without competition though as Holmes enters the spring in terrific shape. He was among the standouts during Florida State's final Tour of Duty workout on Thursday. Don't count out walk-on CJ Campbell either, who is no slouch and was pushing the room last fall.
Bonus: Kicker
There might not have been a position that elicited less confidence from the fanbase last season than the kicking unit. Simply put, veteran Ryan Fitzgerald went through plenty of struggles throughout the season. His performance was less than inspiring but Fitzgerald did hit the game-winning kick to secure Florida State's Cheez-It Bowl victory against Oklahoma.
While Fitzgerald only finished 12/20 on field goal attempts and 57/58 on extra point attempts, Florida State is bringing in a transfer who has connected on at least 70% of his field goal attempts in each season of his college career - Tyler Keltner.
During his three years at East Tennessee State, Keltner finished 56/74 on field goal attempts and 131/131 on extra-point attempts during his three years with the program. Keltner holds ETSU records for fields goals and PATs made. He's second in career points with 299 and has a career-long of 54 yards.
At the very least, Keltner will push Fitzgerald and provide stability within the unit in the event of another slump.
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