FSU Spring Position Previews: Defensive Tackle

The Seminoles combine experience and potential with two of the top transfers on the market.

Unlike that of the offensive line, the defensive line at Florida State has been able to maintain a constant standard of success and has been able to remain chock full of talent throughout the program’s hardships. Coach Odell Haggins has long been at the helm of this position group at Florida State, and he continues to show why he’s the man for the job. Entering 2023, the ‘Noles are primed to continue their success at the position with the level of talent returning, the level of talent coming from the transfer portal and recruiting trail, and the sheer experience littered across the depth chart.

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Look, it comes as no surprise to devoted followers of this team that the defensive line is, perhaps, one of the strongest position groups on the defense. But, let’s just take the defensive ends out of this equation for a minute. That means setting aside the talent of Jared Verse, Patrick Payton, and Derrick McClendon II. 

That means solely focusing on the interior part of that line. When you analyze the line under this microscope, not much changes in terms of position strength. Sure, Florida State is losing some leaders and key contributors heading into 2023, but what it has acquired in return will surely fill the hole of said losses and then some.

Departures:

Robert Cooper, Jarrett Jackson (Transferred to Michigan State), Shambre Jackson (Transferred to Mass)

Robert Cooper, aside from being the epitome of a “Seminole lifer,” was a force to be reckoned with on Florida State’s interior defensive line. The 6-foot-2, 335-pound defensive tackle started all 13 games for the Seminoles, notching 19 tackles (one of which was recorded for a loss). Cooper was an effective run-stopper, especially combined with the likes of Lovett and Briggs. The loss of Cooper is a significant one for the ‘Noles both on the field and in the locker room.

Jarrett Jackson transferred to Florida State prior to the 2020 season by way of Louisville. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound defensive tackle played 11 games in 2022 and recorded 12 tackles (5 of which came against NC State) and key quarterback hurries against Louisville down the stretch. Unfortunately, Jackson’s role diminished towards the end of the 2022 season following a string of injuries and a slow rehabilitation process. With the infusion of younger talent into the starting lineup and the inclination that his role would continue to diminish into 2023, Jackson elected to enter the transfer portal in December; eventually landing at Michigan State soon thereafter.

Returners:

Redshirt senior Fabien Lovett, Sr., redshirt senior Dennis Briggs, Jr., redshirt junior Malcolm Ray, redshirt sophomore Joshua Farmer, redshirt freshman Bishop Thomas, redshirt freshman Ayobami Tifase, redshirt freshman Daniel Lyons, redshirt freshman Antavious Woody

Perhaps one of the more surprising developments during the offseason, Fabien Lovett once again elected to forego the NFL Draft and return to Florida State for his final year of eligibility. Those in and around the community believed the defensive lineman would finally make the jump to the professional level this year after passing up the Draft in 2021. However, Lovett’s 2022 campaign didn’t exactly go as planned. After recording 2 tackles against LSU, the 6-foot-4, 318-pound DL suffered a lower leg injury on the final drive of the game and was sidelined for a significant portion of the season. He made his return against Georgia Tech and finished out the season with 10 more tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. Lovett’s return in 2023 does so much more for the Seminoles both on and off the field. He’s a significant presence on the field, a versatile defensive player, and a veteran leader in the locker room. Florida State is hopeful that Lovett can string together a full slate of games in his final season.

Of course, the rest of the cast features a laundry list of athletes that fans have grown accustomed to seeing. Dennis Briggs, Jr., Joshua Farmer, and Malcolm Ray all come to mind when thinking about the defensive linemen that continually make their presence known on the field. Each of these gentlemen ranked within the Top 20 on the team in defensive production across all positions, combining for 51 total tackles (assisted and solo), 12 tackles for loss (6 of which Joshua Farmer accounted for on his own), and 7 total sacks. With the departure of Robert Cooper, Florida State must look to find consistent production from these experienced returners, all of whom are viable candidates to replace the open spot in the Cooper-Lovett duo. Of course, they’ll also be competing alongside some very promising newcomers.

New Additions:

Junior Darrell Jackson, Jr. (Miami), redshirt senior Braden Fiske (Western Michigan)

Braden Fiske is the clear headliner from the group of new faces. The second team All-MAC performer attended Western Michigan for the 2022 season, notching 58 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss with 6.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. The Indiana native entered the transfer portal in November of 2022 and quickly skyrocketed to the top of everyone’s prospect boards. Fiske was ranked the 6th overall prospect by On3 and the 14th overall prospect by 247. Mike Norvell and the ‘Noles were quick to lay the groundwork with Fiske, which ultimately led to his decision to enroll at Florida State for the 2023 season. The redshirt senior has forged an illustrious career, thus far, and he stands to make an instant impact in Tallahassee.

Florida State’s other notable pick-up, Darrell Jackson Jr., was one of the Miami Hurricanes’ key contributors for the 2022 season. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Defensive lineman played all 12 games for the Hurricanes and emerged as Miami’s top performer alongside Leonard Taylor, but elected to transfer to Florida State shortly after the 45-day window opened up. Jackson Jr. is a former high school teammate of fellow Florida State defensive lineman Joshua Farmer. He boasts a career stat line of 49 tackles, including 4.5 for loss with 3.0 sacks, and one pass breakup. Like Fiske, Jackson brings an infusion of experience and versatility to an already deep and experienced position group.

Projected Depth Chart:

Nose Tackle:

1. Fabien Lovett

2. Darrell Jackson Jr.

3. Malcolm Ray

Defensive Tackle:

1. Braden Fiske

2. Joshua Farmer/Dennis Briggs

3. Daniel Lyons

Spring Outlook:

Heading into Spring, there are a few things to keep your eye on. For starters, the emergence of the Lovett-Fiske duo is something to look forward to. Should those two find a rhythm early on, it could very well be a sign of good things to come in the fall. You’ll also want to keep track of how the young corps is progressing in their development, specifically the likes of Farmer, Ray, Lyons, and Woody. As mentioned above, many of these young men provided a significant presence in the backfield against opponents during the 2022 season. If they can find consistency to their play and take that next step, that depth at the defensive tackle position looks less like a crutch and more like a secret weapon. Finally, there’s a fair balance of veteran experience and young talent, and the chemistry across the board will begin to form in the spring. Can the likes of Darrell Jackson Jr. and Dennis Briggs serve to pave the way for the futures of Ayobami Tifase and Daniel Lyons?

So, what’s the bottom line then? What does this mean for the defensive tackle position at Florida State in 2023? Put simply, this position group is deep and highly versatile. With the infusion of talent and the return of most veterans, the Seminoles may boast one of the most prolific interior defensive lines in the country. Of course, staying healthy is of the utmost importance (deficiencies reared their ugly heads when key players went down with injuries in 2022), but it’s safe to say that the Seminoles have enough talented depth to fill in if need be.

On paper, this group appears to be one of if not the most talented position groups on the Seminole defense. Spring practice will offer our first look at whether that talent on paper can develop into production on the field. 

Previous Spring Position Previews:

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receivers

Tight End

Offensive Line

Linebackers

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

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