Ten Thoughts On Florida State's First Depth Chart Of The 2023 Season
Florida State opened up game week against LSU by dropping its first depth chart of the 2023 season on Monday afternoon. While there were plenty of things we expected that rang true across the two-deep, there were also a couple of surprises to take note of.
READ MORE: Florida State Seminoles Release Depth Chart For Top-10 Matchup Against LSU Tigers
There are definitely still some areas where fans will have to read between the lines as head coach Mike Norvell included a whopping 12 OR designations across the depth chart. That's to be expected as there isn't much of an advantage to Florida State giving everything away before the team has even played one game.
Here are ten of my thoughts from the opening depth chart prior to a top-ten showdown.
1. Only Two Quarterbacks Listed On Depth Chart
Jordan Travis is obviously Florida State's starting quarterback but there was fierce competition throughout preseason camp as true freshman Brock Glenn pushed redshirt junior Tate Rodemaker for the backup job. When the depth chart was unveiled, Rodemaker was the only other signal-caller listed on the two deep alongside Travis.
That doesn't necessarily come as a surprise as Rodemaker proved that he can step in and perform when needed after guiding FSU to a comeback victory against Louisville on the road. He's proved himself between the lines of an actual college game and is entering his fourth year in Norvell's system. There's a level of comfortability with Rodemaker if he's needed to enter the game.
Does that mean the competition is over? Not by a long shot. Rodemaker, Glenn, and redshirt freshman AJ Duffy will continue to grapple during practice throughout the season. Glenn has received rave reviews from the coaching staff and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him appear on the depth chart sooner rather than later.
2. Destyn Hill's impressive rise to co-starter with Winston Wright Jr.
The top recruit in Florida State's 2021 class, there was a serious level of intrigue surrounding what Destyn Hill would look like on the field when he finally arrived in Tallahassee. I cautioned for fans to be patient as the former four-star prospect worked his way back into a rhythm.
The last couple of weeks have just been extremely impressive to watch as Hill has continued to assert himself at the college level. It never really felt like he missed a step from the very first day of preseason camp. There were some moments for Hill to work through but he brought the same mentality each practice and continued to get better.
With his athleticism and playmaking ability, it's no surprise he's jumped right into the mix for a starting spot. You've also got to tip your hat to Winston Wright Jr. for working his way into game shape. He came on strong during the latter half of the preseason and is finally looking comfortable after his leg injury.
3. Transfers take over as starters in the tight end room
Florida State's tight end room sports a ton of versatility on the cusp of the 2023 season. When the Seminoles landed two of the top transfers at the position during the winter, it felt like only a matter of time until Jaheim Bell entered the starting lineup. However, when the depth chart was released, it wasn't only Bell, but fellow transfer Kyle Morlock was listed as a starter too.
The 6-foot-6 tight end joined the Seminoles after beginning his career at the D2 ranks. Morlock had an acclimation period during the spring but really began to make an impact consistently after showing out during Florida State's practices at the University of North Florida.
The blend between Morlock and Bell will make for an exciting combination. Markeston Douglas and Preston Daniel will continue to be heavily involved in the rotation. Douglas rose up his level of play with the increasing talent in the room.
4. Robert Scott continues to lock down left tackle spot
I've got to admit, this one came as a surprise to me after veteran offensive tackle Robert Scott missed the entirety of the spring with a lower-body injury. In his absence, Bless Harris returned from a season-ending injury in 2022 and looked extremely impressive.
Harris was arguably Florida State's most consistent offensive lineman during the spring and carried that into the fall. Instead, Scott was the sole starter at left tackle on the depth chart while Harris is a co-starter with Jeremiah Byers at the other tackle spot. No matter what happens on that right side, Harris and Byers are both going to play a lot of football for the Seminoles this year.
I think both of them are versatile enough to be considered swing tackles for Florida State. Alex Atkins views his offensive line as a unique situation where there are more than five starting players, which applies to the tackle spot as well.
5. Braden Fiske is the lone sole starter among a deep interior defensive line
There might not be a deeper unit on Florida State's roster than what the team has brewing on its interior defensive line. There are legitimately six to seven players that could've been listed as starters and no one would've blinked an eye.
With the release of the depth chart, Western Michigan transfer Braden Fiske will start at one defensive tackle position while Fabien Lovett and Joshua Farmer are co-starters at the other spot. Dennis Briggs Jr., Malcolm Ray, and Daniel Lyons make up the remainder of the two-deep behind the trio.
Fiske was unblockable at times during preseason camp and his mix of power and athleticism for his size will allow the Seminoles to use him in some unique ways. You know what you get out of Fabien Lovett with his talent and experience in the system while Joshua Farmer has continued to take strides in his development.
If Darrell Jackson somehow gets his waiver this year, watch out.
6. Fentrell Cypress II to start at cornerback
It hasn't always been easy for All-ACC cornerback Fentrell Cypress II since he transferred to Florida State over the offseason. He had some legitimate struggles during the spring while battling against a talented group of wide receivers and adjusting to a new defensive system.
To his credit, Cypress has only continued to grow more and more comfortable while settling in with his new program. He was popping up with big plays in just about every practice during the second half of preseason camp, including some fun matchups with Johnny Wilson and Hykeem Williams.
Cypress and Green give the Seminoles a couple of reliable veterans on the outside who have played a ton of quality football. There will be plenty of youth in the rotation as sophomore Azareye'h Thomas and true freshman Quindarrius Jones both earned backup jobs. Jarrian Jones will also contribute on the outside while earning snaps at nickel cornerback as well.
7. Akeem Dent and Kevin Knowles listed as co-starters at free safety
Florida State converted nickel cornerback Kevin Knowles to free safety over the summer in an effort to stack depth at the safety spot. He's proved to be more than an insurance policy, swiftly taking ownership of his new position and making plenty of plays. Even more impressive, Knowles is always helping younger players on the roster and shouting out instructions from the sidelines when he's not on the field.
Knowles has truly pushed redshirt senior Akeem Dent for the right to earn a starting role. Dent has responded with a consistent performance during camp, flashing with splash plays at different times. Regardless of who starts, both players will be utilized heavily in the defensive backfield.
The Seminoles will need them to stay healthy as Dent was limited late in the season and in the offseason following an ankle injury. Knowles missed the spring with an injury as well.
8. 11 freshmen listed on the depth chart
This team has plenty of experience across the roster but there is still an opportunity for younger players to make an impact if they prove themselves. The Seminoles appear to have found a special crop of young prospects in their 2023 class. Multiple freshmen have stood out during the preseason, leading to seven newcomers and a few second-year players cracking the two-deep.
True freshman wide receiver Destyn Hill is a co-starter with Winston Wright while true freshman Quindarrius Jones is the primary backup to Renardo Green. JUCO transfer and redshirt freshman Ashlynd Barker will be the primary backup to Shyheim Brown. Cornerback Edwin Joseph, safety Conrad Hussey, safety KJ Kirkland, wide receiver Hykeem Williams, and linebacker Blake Nichelson are listed in reserve roles on the two-deep.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Omar Graham Jr., redshirt freshman running back Rodney Hill and redshirt freshman defensive tackle Daniel Lyons are also backups at their respective positions on the depth chart.
That's a lot of youth to potentially be relying on throughout the 2023 season. At the same time, all 11 of these players have proved themselves against Florida State's veterans early in their respective college careers.
9. Keon Coleman will begin the season as FSU's starting punt returner
I'm not certain off the top of my head how many punt returners in college football stand at 6-foot-4. There's going to be at least one in 2023 and he resides in Tallahassee as Michigan State transfer Keon Coleman will replace the reliable Mycah Pittman on Florida State's punt return unit.
While he was a standout wide receiver for the Spartans who made plenty of big plays, Coleman did not return a punt or kickoff during his two years with the program. Instead, special teams coordinator John Papuchis noted on Monday that Coleman's ability as a punt returner was something the coaching staff found out about over the summer.
That's been a welcome development as he's looked like a natural at the spot during the preseason. There are some warranted concerns with his lack of game experience as a punt returner, especially prior to his first live reps being against a top-10 LSU team. However, his talent and game-breaking ability make the risk well worth the reward.
10. Ryan Fitzgerald wins the kicking job over Tyler Keltner
Asked about the kicking battle during his opening press conference for LSU week, Norvell said that the competition between Ryan Fitzgerald and Tyler Keltner was arguably the closest on the roster. Sometimes, that can not necessarily be a good thing but in this situation, both kickers were very reliable during the preseason.
There was about a week where there were some up-and-down moments. Outside of that, Fitzgerald and Keltner were generally consistent during their live reps in practice. I think the addition of Keltner has only pushed Fitzgerald to be his best each day.
In the event he does struggle like last season, Florida State will have a capable option waiting in the wings. The Seminoles should be comfortable with their kickers into the 45+ yard range.
READ MORE: NoleGameday's Staff Predicts Florida State's 2023 Season
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