Ira Schoffel: 5 Big Takeaways from Florida State press conferences, depth chart release
Game Week is finally here for the No. 8 Florida State football team.
With Sunday’s season opener against No. 5 LSU looming this Sunday, FSU head coach Mike Norvell and his three coordinators — Alex Atkins (offense), Adam Fuller (defense) and John Papuchis (special teams) — met with the media for over an hour on Monday. The Seminoles also released their projected depth charts for the highly anticipated top-10 showdown.
Having digested all of that information, here are 5 Big Takeaways from what we learned on Monday.
Two Amazing Stories in the Slot for Florida State
Florida State’s coaching staff didn’t designate a clear-cut starter at slot receiver with the release of Monday’s projected depth chart for the LSU game. But regardless of who goes out there first — whether it’s freshman Destyn Hill or senior Winston Wright Jr. — it will be an incredible story.
Hill, who originally signed with Florida State in 2021, hasn’t played in an organized football game since the 2020 season. He has been out of action since his senior season of high school due to personal/family reasons.
Wright, meanwhile, hasn’t played in a real game since the 2021 season at West Virginia. He sustained a serious leg injury in a car accident back in March of 2022 and has been on a long road back to full speed ever since.
The fact that Hill and Wright are listed as co-starters for the season opener speaks to how well they have performed during preseason camp, and how well they have persevered through adversity.
They each also have a lot to offer the Seminoles’ offense. Hill is one of the fastest players on the team, and Wright is an extremely experienced route-runner who caught over 60 passes in his final season at West Virginia.
Florida State Transfer Class Has Panned Out
Norvell and his staff are continuing to set a high bar with how well FSU is using the transfer portal.
It’s not just the fact that the Seminoles are landing a lot of high-profile transfers, it’s how well those newcomers fill needs that is so impressive. At least seven of Florida State’s 2023 transfers could be in the starting lineup for the LSU game, and that number could actually grow during the season.
These transfers are listed as outright starters for the LSU game:
Former Michigan State WR Keon ColemanFormer South Carolina TE Jaheim BellFormer Shorter (Ga.) University TE Kyle MorlockFormer Colorado OG Casey Roddick Former Western Michigan DT Braden FiskeFormer Virginia CB Fentrell Cypress
Coleman is also listed as the starter on punt returns.
Former UTEP OL Jeremiah Byers is listed as a co-starter at right tackle, and Auburn transfer Keiondre Jones is listed as Roddick’s top backup at left guard.
Defensive end Gilber Edmond, who transferred in from South Carolina, is a No. 2 defensive end, and former Miami starter Darrell Jackson would likely be a starter or No. 2 defensive tackle if he were eligible. (Norvell also said Monday that the Seminoles are still hopeful Jackson will be ruled eligible this season.)
Every 2023 transfer, other than Jackson, is listed on the two-deep.
Florida State in Good Health After Physical Camp
The Seminoles will not have slot receiver Ja’Khi Douglas early this season, Norvell announced during Monday’s press conference. The veteran receiver is expected to miss at least a few games with an undisclosed injury.
But other than that, Florida State appears to be in good shape physically heading into the LSU game.
Norvell said earlier this preseason that the Seminoles have taken things slow with some veteran players who were coming back from injuries, including offensive tackle Robert Scott and defensive tackle Fabien Lovett. But he said just about everyone other than Douglas should be available this week.
Fitzgerald Has Risen to Challenge
Florida State’s coaches didn’t hide the fact they were disappointed with the performance of placekicker Ryan Fitzgerald last season. The veteran tinkered with his mechanics going into the 2022 campaign and struggled for much of the year, connecting on just 12 of 20 field goals.
Once that season was over, Florida State brought in former East Tennessee State starter Tyler Keltner to challenge Fitzgerald for the top job. But after a month of preseason camp, Fitzgerald has successfully defended his turf and retained the starting role.
Special teams coordinator John Papuchis credited Fitzgerald with responding to the challenge and raising his level of play since Keltner arrived in January. And Norvell said it might have been the most competitive position battle on the other team.
What that means is the Seminoles should have two competent placekickers on the roster this fall.
The Kids Are All Right
On a top-10 team loaded with experience, the members of Florida State’s 2023 freshman class will have to fight to find opportunities for playing time this season. And based on the Seminoles’ newly released depth chart, several of them have done just that.
Seven true freshmen have worked their way onto the FSU two-deep following preseason camp, and others could work their way up to that level in the coming weeks.
Here’s a look at the top performing true freshmen:
Destyn Hill — As mentioned earlier, he is listed as a co-starter at slot receiver.Quindarrius Jones — Top backup to starting cornerback Renardo GreenHykeem Williams — Listed as a top backup to starting WR Johnny Wilson Blake Nichelson — A top backup to starting LB Tatum BethuneEdwin Joseph — A top backup to Greedy Vance and Jarrian Jones at nickel cornerConrad Hussey, KJ Kirkland — Top backups at free safety
Those seven aren’t the only freshmen who will play this season. Norvell has said he could see 8 to 10 avoid being redshirted, and some of the other top candidates include WR Vandrevius Jacobs and linebackers Justin Cryer and DeMarco Ward.
*ALSO SEE: Watch all of Monday’s press conferences
Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.
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