FSU Football Fall Camp Preview: Linebackers

Who will step up behind the top three linebackers in the rotation?

As Florida State's fall camp approaches, NoleGameday has been analyzing each position group throughout the offseason. With the series wrapping up, the focus now shifts to the linebacker room, a top-heavy unit returning three experienced leaders, a few uncertainties, and promising underclassmen who are poised to take an early role in the program. With the season on the horizon, all eyes are on how this group will shape up to bolster the team's defense.

With Kalen DeLoach, Tatum Bethune, and DJ Lundy leading the way, this unit is essential for the Seminoles' defensive success, as it plays a crucial role in controlling the middle of the field, stopping the run, and providing extra coverage against the pass.

FSU linebackers Kalen DeLoach, Tatum Bethune and DJ Lundy celebrate with Florida State fans in the Taco Bell Live Mas Student section / Instagram

Other Fall Camp Previews:

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Offensive Line

Defensive Ends

Defensive Tackles

Cornerbacks

Safeties

At The Surface

Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller traditionally runs a 4-3/4-2-5 scheme that utilizes hybrid players at all levels of the defense. In doing so, a standup defensive end will occasionally drop out into the flats or take on the role of a linebacker in certain play calls. This can give the defense a variety of different looks and options on blitz packages and coverages.

There were three scholarship freshmen recruits added to the roster from #Tribe23 and a transfer from Northwestern en route.

— Kalen DeLoach, Redshirt Senior  

DeLoach is likely to be one of the primary leaders of the linebacker corps. With his experience and sideline-to-sideline skill set, he brings a strong presence to the field. Known for his athleticism, football IQ, and tackling ability, DeLoach will be a key player in both run defense and pass coverage. Listed at 6-foot-1. 212 pounds, he finished 2022 with 57 tackles (30 solo, 27 assists), three sacks, and 5.5 tackles for loss.

— Tatum Bethune, Redshirt Senior

Another seasoned linebacker, Bethune was a plug-and-play impact transfer out of UCF and immediately boosted the strength of the room. Listed at 6-foot-1, 230 pounds he played in all 13 games last season with 11 starts recording 84 tackles (43 solo, 41 assists) 9.5 for a loss, three sacks, three pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. What's remarkable is that he was battling an undisclosed injury last year and will likely improve on those numbers in 2023.

— DJ Lundy, Redshirt Junior

Lundy's emergence as a leader and playmaker has been impressive. He plays on both sides of the ball which is rare in college and is sometimes substituted as a fullback in goal-line situations. He helped bridge the gap between what some would call mediocre linebacker play to where the unit stands today. He was a championship wrestler in high school and is listed at 6-foot-1, 244 pounds on the current roster. Lundy appeared in all 13 games and totaled 48 tackles (24 solo, 24 assists) five for a loss, and 1.5 sacks. 

— Omar Graham, Jr., Redshirt Freshman

Graham's teammates and coaches are very high on his potential and work ethic and after taking a redshirt last year he appears to be ready for the next step in his game. He is listed at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds and played in three games last season while recording eight tackles. Going by what his teammates are saying, I'd say look out for Graham, Jr. to have a solid year in the rotation. 

— Brian Courtney, Redshirt Freshman

As a 6-foot-3, 238-pound redshirt freshman, Courtney recently switched to the linebacker position after trying his hand at tight end. With the additions of tight ends Jaheim Bell and Kyle Morlock, he has a better chance to see the field on the other side of the ball. In high school, he bounced around from playing quarterback to playing some defensive end so it isn't completely far-fetched for him to make the jump.

— Dylan Brown-Turner, True Freshman

In his high school career at South Oak Cliff, the consensus three-star prospect totaled 151 tackles, five for a loss, one forced fumble, one interception and three sacks helping lead the Bears to consecutive 5A-2 state championships.

 — Blake Nichelson, True Freshman

Nichelson is a former four-star recruit out of Manteca in Ripon, California. Listed at 6-foot-3 215 he was the No. 10 linebacker in the country according to 247Sports, recording 93 tackles, including 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, and four forced fumbles. On offense, Nichelson had 431 carries for 4,078 yards and 65 touchdowns, plus 52 receptions for 1,231 yards and 22 touchdowns during his high school career. 

— Demarco Ward, True Freshman

Ward is a 6-foot-1, 227-pound former three-star recruit out of Duluth in Duluth, Georgia he ended his high school career with 238 tackles, including 21 for loss with seven sacks, four fumble recoveries, one interception, and five pass breakups in 29 games. He had a solid spring as an early enrollee and should continue to progress throughout fall camp. 

— Justin Cryer, True Freshman

Cryer isn't listed on the current roster but the Northwestern transfer announced his decision to enter the portal in late July making him the last addition to the 2023 class. During his senior season, Cryer totaled 95 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and six sacks. FSU was involved in his original recruitment out of high school and the recent firing of Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald prompted him to take the trip to Tallahassee. 

Biggest Question Mark?

After the three veterans at the top, who takes the opportunity to step up and bolster the rotation?

The veteran presence in the linebacker room will help the newcomers get acclimated to the college level and lead the group. But after DeLoach, Lundy and Bethune, there isn't a proven linebacker that has shown the ability to step up and fill the big shoes left behind if there is a serious injury. There are a lot of snaps to split between those three and there will likely be a need for fresh legs as the season progresses. 

Follow the Leader

DeLoach is the cut-and-dry leader of the room as evidenced by his performance in the 2023 Spring Game and production a season ago. His guidance and understanding of the scheme will be critical if the linebacker room wants to succeed. As mentioned before, his football IQ and experience are valuable assets to a group that will be inserting a lot of new faces into the mix. 

Fall Camp Outlook

Graham, Jr. is likely the one to provide an answer to the depth situation but it will be interesting to see how the freshmen take to the program throughout fall camp. It will be key to build a foundation with the younger players in case one of them has to see the field earlier than expected. As with all the freshmen in the group, it will be difficult to see significant playing time with the linebacker position being so robust at the top. 

Nov 25, 2022; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles linebacker Tatum Bethune (15) tackles Florida Gators running back Trevor Etienne (7) during the first half at Doak S. Campbell Stadium / © Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports

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