Odell Haggins breaks down Florida State’s deep, talented defensive tackle group

In 30-plus seasons as a Florida State player or coach, Odell Haggins has seen just about everything imaginable on the Seminoles’ practice fields.

And even after all these years — with so many different lineups and countless players under his tutelage — the longtime defensive tackles coach says he never strays from the basics during spring practice. So when the Florida State football team wrapped up the spring of 2023 this week, Haggins was most proud of how his players performed in those areas.

“Playing low, using their hands, playing hard,” Haggins said. “That’s one thing I really, really focused on — playing [with] low pads. Fundamentals are so important that that position.”

Haggins always seems to have quality talent to work with, but his defensive tackle group in 2023 might be among the deepest units of his career.

The leader of the group is Fabien Lovett, a 6-foot-4, 328-pound senior who has started nearly 20 games over the past three seasons, since transferring in from Mississippi State. But after him, the Seminoles boast an array of talented home-grown products and intriguing transfers.

Former Western Michigan star Braden Fiske brings perhaps the strongest credentials, having played in 33 games with 19 starts at his former school. He recorded 58 tackles, 12 tackles for loss with six sacks last season, then decided to transfer to Florida State for his final college season.

Fiske was limited this spring after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, but Haggins said he wasn’t overly concerned with seeing the 6-5, 305-pounder in action just yet. He said Fiske’s No. 1 objective is, “getting healthy.”

The other high-profile transfer joining the group is former Miami and Maryland defensive lineman Darrell Jackson Jr., who registered 27 tackles with 4.5 for loss and 3.0 sacks last season with the Hurricanes.

From the start of Tour of Duty workouts this winter through all of spring practice, Jackson drew rave reviews from teammates and coaches for his quickness and power, at 6-5 and 326 pounds. And while the Seminoles are still waiting for word from the NCAA on his waiver request — Jackson needs clearance to play immediately because this is his second college transfer as an undergraduate — Haggins is clearly impressed by what he has seen.

“Darrell’s gonna be a really, really good football player,” Haggins said. “He’s a kid that, he’ll work hard. There are certain different things, different techniques I’m teaching him … learning a new defense. He’s doing a really good job.”

This was also an important spring for redshirt sophomore Joshua Farmer, who pushed his way into the DT rotation last season. Farmer, who was a high school teammate of Jackson’s, played in every game last season, and six of his 15 tackles were behind the line of scrimmage.

The 6-3, 304-pounder is also expected to be part of the top rotation for Florida State this fall.

“I’ve seen Josh Farmer grow a lot,” Haggins said. “His technique, being more natural at it. He’s not thinking as much. He has grown — he’s becoming the player that we all want him to be. Every-down player — can play first, second and third down. I’ve seen him grow a lot.”

Along with those four, the Seminoles also have redshirt senior Dennis Briggs Jr., who has played in 39 college games while switching between defensive tackle and defensive end, redshirt junior Malcolm Ray and a trio of promising redshirt freshmen — Daniel Lyons, Bishop Thomas and Ayobami Tifase.

Ray has played in 39 games over the last three seasons with seven starts.

“I feel confident with a lot of the guys out there,” Haggins said. “I feel very confident.”

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.

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