FSU Football Fall Camp Preview: Offensive Line

The Seminoles will field a group of offensive linemen that have combined for 200+ starts in their respective careers.

There is just over a week remaining until Florida State gets back on the field to kick off preseason camp. The Seminoles have high expectations on their plate but also possess the talent to live up to what the fanbase and country are anticipating in 2023.

READ MORE: Florida State Adds Transfer From Ohio State To 2023-24 Roster

The offense is projected to be one of the most explosive in the nation after averaging 484.2 yards per game last season. As crazy as it sounds, that number should only improve with the pieces that Florida State has returned and the talent acquired in the transfer portal.

It will all start for the Seminoles up front as the team will field an offensive line that has combined for 206 starts in their respective careers. FSU has even more depth than a season ago which is a testament to the work Alex Atkins has done in Tallahassee.

NoleGameday will be breaking down each position group on the roster to provide an inside look at how things could turn out with the season swiftly approaching. The focus turns towards an offensive line room that is turning into a strength for the program.

Other Fall Camp Previews:

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Defensive Ends

Defensive Tackles

Safeties

At the Surface

— D'Mitri Emmanuel, Redshirt Senior

Emmanuel started in all 13 of Florida State's games in 2022 after transferring in from Charlotte. He received a waiver for a seventh year of eligibility during the spring and is the most seasoned player on the roster in regard to the time he's spent at the college level. It would be a surprise if he's bumped out of the starting lineup.

— Bless Harris, Redshirt Senior

Harris was expected to be FSU's starting right tackle last season prior to going down with an injury in the first game. He's back fully healthy and was one of the group's top performers during the spring. Harris might find himself on the other side of the line this year.

— Casey Roddick, Redshirt Senior

Roddick transferred to Florida State from Colorado earlier this offseason and has appeared in 42 games, with 30 starts, across multiple positions along the offensive line during his career. He has experience playing both guard spots as well as right tackle. Roddick worked mostly at guard and center during the spring.

— Robert Scott, Redshirt Junior

Scott has started in 29 of his 30 appearances during his career at Florida State. However, he's dealt with injuries during his time with the Seminoles, including a lower-body ailment that kept him out of spring practice. Scott will have to battle to earn his starting spot after other offensive linemen had standout offseasons.

— Darius Washington, Redshirt Junior

Washington has turned into a versatile presence on Florida State's offensive line during his college career. He started games at right tackle, left tackle, and center for the Seminoles last season. Washington struggled to return from an offseason injury in 2022 but came on strong down the stretch. His experience will be important in the room.

— Maurice Smith, Redshirt Junior

Speaking of experience, there might not be a more important player on Florida State's offensive line than Maurice Smith. His knowledge of the system, familiarity with Jordan Travis, and leadership are aspects that make him stand out despite his smaller stature as a center. He's up to 295 pounds after appearing in 33 games, with 29 starts, during his first four years with the Seminoles.

— Jeremiah Byers, Redshirt Junior

Byers joined the program over the offseason after beginning his career at UTEP. He appeared in 33 games, with 30 starts, with the Miners and earned first-team All-Conference USA honors in 2022. Byers was impressive during Florida State's slate of spring practices and will be battling for a starting spot.

— Keiondre Jones, Redshirt Junior

Jones is another player that the Seminoles added out of the NCAA Transfer Portal to shore up the offensive line. At worst, he'll be a valuable depth piece, and at best, he might break into the starting lineup. Jones appeared in 36 games, with 22 starts, during his time at Auburn.

— Thomas Shrader, Redshirt Junior

Shrader has been a limited participant for much of the last two seasons while dealing with injuries. He appeared in one game in 2022 but isn't expected to play a major role this year.

— Bryson Estes, Redshirt Sophomore

Estes has spent two seasons developing in Florida State's system and strength and conditioning program. He possesses impressive strength and versatility. Estes appeared in all 13 games last season as a member of the field goal unit and as a backup offensive lineman. He'll be competing for a rotational spot once again.

— Kanaya Charlton, Redshirt Freshman

Charlton redshirted during his first year with the Seminoles while working on trimming up his frame. He's slowly getting into better shape and that will benefit his development. Charlton appeared in four games last year and will serve as a reserve.

— Daughtry Richardson, Redshirt Freshman

Richardson spent his first season with FSU developing his body in the strength and conditioning program. His dedication has paid off as he has gained 31 pounds since the beginning of the year and is up to 316 pounds. The next step will be displaying more consistency during practices.

— Julian Armella, Redshirt Freshman

Armella is probably the furthest along of any of the offensive linemen entering their second season with the program. He'll be battling for a spot in the two-deep after redshirting in 2022. Armella has repped at both tackle spots but it wouldn't be a surprise if he slots in on the right side of the line.

— Jaylen Early, Redshirt Freshman

Early is another member of the 2022 class that has made impressive strides with his body. He entered the year at 338 pounds but is down a whopping 39 pounds to just below the 300 mark. With the change in his body composition, Early's future might end up being at tackle.

— Qae'shon Sapp, Redshirt Freshman

Sapp has made some legitimate improvements to his frame over the last year. His future with the Seminoles will probably be at center. This will be an important season in his continued development behind Maurice Smith and Casey Roddick.

— Lucas Simmons, True Freshman

Simmons enrolled early as a member of the 2023 class and went through spring practice with the team. He's shown some impressive strides in a short time and has the potential to be a building block up front in the future.

— Andre' Otto, True Freshman

Otto recently arrived in Tallahassee after signing with the Seminoles as an under-the-radar prospect. He already stands at 6-foot-5, 326-pounds with a wrestling background and the kind of smarts that had Ivy League schools pursuing him. Otto could end up being a diamond in the rough later in his career.

Projected Two-Deep Depth Chart

Left tackle

1. Bless Harris, RS Sr.

2. Robert Scott, RS Jr.

Left Guard

1. Casey Roddick, RS Sr.

2. Keiondre Jones, RS Jr.

Center

1. Maurice Smith, RS Jr.

2. Darius Washington, RS Jr./Roddick

Right Guard

1. D'Mitri Emmanuel, RS Sr.

2. Jones/Washington

Right Tackle

1. Jeremiah Byers, RS Jr.

2. Julian Armella, RS Fr.

Biggest Question Mark?

How will the starting five shake out with the number of players competing for snaps?

The Seminoles legitimately have eight or nine players that will be battling for a spot in the starting lineup during fall camp. The projection above is just that, a projection, and things could be shaken up drastically depending on how certain members of the roster perform on the field over the next couple of weeks.

Regardless, Florida State has plenty of reliable and experienced options to turn to. At the very least, the 'Noles will have a swing tackle on the bench in the event of an injury. The most likely to fit into that role are Robert Scott or Darius Washington, who has the versatility to play tackle, guard, or center.

Follow the Leader

This was a harder decision than expected as the Seminoles have multiple veterans along the offensive line that have been around for years in Maurice Smith, Darius Washington, and Robert Scott. D'Mitri Emmanuel also could have been considered a candidate as he enters his second season with the program and seventh overall at the college level.

With that being said, the nod goes to Smith for his longevity with the Seminoles, growth over time, and importance to the offense as a whole. He's appeared in 33 games, with 29 starts, during his four years in Tallahassee. That includes a career-high 12 starts last season where he was named an All-ACC honorable mention.

Coincidentally enough, the first start of his career came against Boston College in November of 2019. That was the same day Jordan Travis stepped onto the field for the first time as a Seminole, recording three carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns, in what ended up as a 38-31 victory over the Eagles.

Smith was there at the beginning of Travis' rise to stardom. Now he'll play a major role in the conclusion of his chapter at Florida State. In the process, Smith will be an extremely valuable leader for his position group and a reliable presence on the field.

Fall Camp Outlook

These next couple of weeks will be important as the position group figures out what role each player will fill this upcoming season. The Seminoles understand what Smith, Washington, Scott, and Emmanuel bring to the table. Bless Harris stood out during the spring but missed all of last year with an injury. He's pushing Scott, who was out the entire spring with a lower-body injury, for the left tackle job.

That battle and the one brewing at left guard between Casey Roddick, Keiondre Jones, and Darius Washington are the two to watch during the preseason. Jeremiah Byers and D'Mitri Emmanuel appear to have the right side fairly locked down and it'll take something significant to unseat Smith at the center spot.

Don't count out the youngsters from getting into the mix. Julian Armella and Jaylen Early have improved this offseason and have a legitimate shot at cracking the two-deep.

This is the most confident we've felt about a Florida State offensive line entering the season in over five years. The Seminoles have the experience, depth, and talent to be formidable up front.

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READ MORE: Who Will Be The Next Recruit To Commit To Florida State In July?

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