Florida State Tight End Switches Positions and Changes Jersey Number

At least one player on Florida State's roster is exploring a position change ahead of fall camp.

With the calendar flipping over to July, the Seminoles are only a couple of weeks out from fall camp. At least one player on the roster is preparing to explore a position change once the season gets underway.

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Florida State sophomore Brian Courtney will be getting a look on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker. He suited up for the Seminoles in 12 games last season, contributing on offense as a tight end and on multiple special team units. Courtney caught one pass for 12 yards, hauled in a two-point conversion in the Cheez-It Bowl against Oklahoma, and recorded one tackle.

With Courtney listed as a linebacker/tight end on Florida State's roster, he's also changed from No. 86 to No. 40. The number was worn by walk-on linebacker Jordan McCaslin last season.

This was always a possibility when the Virginia native signed with the Seminoles as a member of the 2022 class. He played multiple positions in high school, including quarterback, outside linebacker, and edge-rusher. Courtney has ideal size for a Power Five linebacker (6-3, 228-pounds) and possesses ample athleticism for the position.

Courtney completed 207/355 passes (58.3%) for 3,474 yards with 28 passing touchdowns to 17 interceptions through the air while rushing 457 times for 3,411 yards with 47 more scores on the ground. He didn't have any defensive statistics listed.

The move provides Florida State with some insurance at linebacker after Brendan Gant and Stephen Dix Jr. transferred from the program in the spring. He can provide a gap between the veterans in the room and the newcomers that were added in the 2023 class.

The Seminoles enter the season with eight scholarship linebackers; redshirt senior Kalen DeLoach, redshirt senior Tatum Bethune, redshirt junior DJ Lundy, Courtney, redshirt freshman Omar Graham, true freshman Blake Nichelson, true freshman Demarco Ward, and true freshman Dylan Brown-Turner.

This doesn't negatively impact Florida State's tight end room either. The Seminoles added South Carolina transfer Jaheim Bell and Shorter transfer Kyle Morlock. The coaching staff also has the No. 1 tight end in the 2024 class - Landen Thomas - currently in the fold. 

The room has at least five allocated scholarships; Bell, Morlock, redshirt junior Markeston Douglas, redshirt sophomore Jackson West, and redshirt freshman Jerrale Powers. That's not accounting for redshirt junior Preston Daniel.

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READ MORE: Florida State Falls Short Of PFF Preseason Top-10

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