Corey Clark: Three areas of concern after first two weeks of Florida State practice

For the most part, I really do like what I’ve seen from this Florida State football team through these first two weeks of preseason camp.

The depth is, I think, better than it’s ever been since Mike Norvell got here. And I mean depth as in dudes who can actually be productive college football players. Every team has a depth chart with names. The 2020 Florida State team had that. But these names on the 2024 have proven to be pretty darn solid from top to bottom, and I can promise you that wasn’t the case four years ago.

I think the quarterback play, specifically from projected starter DJ Uiagalelei has been solid to good. And I think the defense on the whole is going to have more NFL-caliber type players on the two-deep than any roster here at FSU since maybe the mid 2010s. It’s a good unit. Old. Talented. Experienced. With some dynamic young players, too.

So, again, on the whole, I like what I’ve seen. I’m more optimistic about this team now than I was when spring was over.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t have some concerns. Every team in the country, on every level, has question marks in early August. And here are the three biggest ones I think this team has as we enter the third week of preseason camp.

Receiver play

I like Malik Benson. He’s going to be a starter and maybe even a potential star. And we all know Ja’Khi Douglas can make plays. And I think you guys all understand that Lawayne McCoy, the true freshman, has a chance to be a real impact player for the Seminoles.

But there are still so, so many question marks.

Can Hykeem Williams be counted on to take that next step? Can Benson be a true No. 1? Someone at the top of every game plan? Can redshirt freshman Jalen Brown make a move? What about Kentron Poitier and Darion Williamson? Can those two veterans finally — finally — reach their potential?

After almost two weeks of watching practice (we’re so lucky to get to that, by the way), my answer to all of those questions is still the same: No idea. Benson has been great at times, but not ALL the time. Williams has made flash plays for sure, but he’s still a second-year guy trying to find consistency. Same really goes for all the receivers.

Truthfully, I would say Benson and McCoy have been the two most impressive that I’ve seen in camp so far. The guys who consistently make plays the most. But what’s that say when one of your two flashiest WRs in preseason camp is a true freshman who missed a lot of the spring with an injury?

And from the sound of Mike Norvell on Saturday night (we don’t get to watch the scrimmages) it sounds like the receivers couldn’t come down with some catches he absolutely thinks they should. That has been a bit of a theme so far.

So, yes, while I think there are definitely some answers in this WR corps, I can’t say at this stage that this position group has elevated off the question-mark status.

Plenty of time to get there before Ireland, though.

Safety play

So, we all know the linebackers have question marks of their own. Other than DJ Lundy, who has been “limited” this preseason, there arent’t a whole lot of game-time Florida State reps in that room either. And they are definitely a group that has a lot to prove. But, for the most part, I feel like I’ve seen enough from them to be cautiously optimistic.

Justin Cryer and Blake Nichelson are making plays daily, Cam Riley is absolutely going to play, and then there’s also Shawn Murphy, Omar Graham and Lundy when he becomes unlimited. There are enough bodies there that a position group that routinely just puts two guys out there at a time could find a combination of dudes who can go make plays. I’m confident the talent is there for this group to be solid, though not spectacular.

But at safety? I just don’t know.

There’s Shyheim Brown and then everyone else. Brown, of course, is an All-ACC candidate, and he’s the undeniable leader of the defense. He’s a big-time player and an even bigger presence.

But after him? Man, I’m not exactly sure what they have. Davonte Brown is experienced, and I think he’s going to play. Conrad Hussey, Ashlynd Barker, KJ Kirkland and Omarion Cooper have all been getting reps. None have stood out so far, in my opinion. So, where do we stand here? What if Brown goes down for an extended period of time? Who’s the next best safety on the team? I legit have no idea.

I’m not saying Akeem Dent is irreplaceable. After all, he was banged up for much of last year, and the Seminoles still went 13-0. But so far, at an important position like safety, I would say it’s a concern what that pecking order is and who’s going to take the reins and prove they should be on the field with Brown and projected starters like Azareye’h Thomas, Fentrell Cypress and Earl Little.

Fielding punts

Now, you know you have a pretty good team when a guy who watches every one of your practices lists this as his third-biggest concern two weeks into camp. And maybe that’s a little hyperbolic, maybe it’s not THAT big a deal, but it IS a concern after what I’ve seen so far.

Last year, the Florida State coaches threw Keon Coleman back there and he did a very good job once he got comfortable with the position. But that was Coleman. He’d be good at just about anything on a football field.

Right now, it seems as if FSU is working through four primary candidates: Jaylin Lucas, Benson, Micahi Danzy and McCoy.

Lucas seems like the best candidate because of his return ability, but he’s not exactly been the most sure-handed fielding those things yet. He was primarily a kick returner at Indiana, and those are a LOT different to catch than punts. He just hasn’t looked comfortable yet. Benson and McCoy both look comfortable, and maybe Benson would be the most dependable — he just seems like a natural catching the ball — but he’s bobbled a few as well.

And the other two guys? How confident are you in a true freshman in that spot? Even though both of them have been exceptional so far in preseason at making plays, it’s a whole different matter catching a punt in a live game. So, it would take some real belief from special teams coordinator John Papuchis and Norvell to throw one of those guys back there to start the season.

Maybe by the time Florida Stats gets to Ireland it will be an easy decision. Right now, though, it definitely seems like that spot is absolutely still up in the air.

Contact senior writer Corey Clark at corey@warchant.com.

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

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