After a month of practice, the 2024 FSU football team will be unveiled publicly for the first time this afternoon inside Doak Campbell Stadium.<\/p>\n
The Seminoles will feature a new starting quarterback and a bunch of new faces on both sides of the ball, but also plenty of key contributors from the team that won 13 games and an ACC Championship last fall.<\/p>\n
As you prepare for today\u2019s Spring Showcase, which is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will air live on the ACC Network, here are Five Things To Watch in the Seminoles\u2019 spring finale.<\/p>\n
1. All eyes on DJU<\/strong><\/p>\n Florida State fans unfortunately won\u2019t get their first look at five-star freshman quarterback Luke Kromenhoek<\/a><\/strong> or a chance to see the improvement from redshirt freshman Brock Glenn<\/a><\/strong>, but that doesn\u2019t mean the quarterback position won\u2019t put on a show.<\/p>\n To really appreciate the arm strength of new QB transfer DJ Uiagalelei,<\/a><\/strong> you need to see it in person. And whether it\u2019s on a deep ball to a streaking receiver or on an out-route from the opposite hash, FSU fans should get their first taste for the stress Uiagalelei can put on a defense with his impressive arm. There are very few parts of the field he can\u2019t attack.<\/p>\n The former Clemson and Oregon State starter has grown more and more comfortable in Mike Norvell\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> offense during the month of spring drills, and he will be the main attraction during today\u2019s Showcase. That would have been the case even if Kromenhoek and Glenn had been available \u2014 they unfortunately will be held out with minor injuries \u2014 but it will be even more so now.<\/p>\n The most impressive thing Uiagalelei does is throw the deep ball. But he has shown solid touch on short and intermediate passes as well, and with this being his fourth year as a starting college quarterback, he shows real patience and calmness in the pocket.<\/p>\n The other quarterback to keep an eye on is freshman Trever Jackson.<\/a><\/strong> He likely will see the second-most snaps in the Showcase, and his natural talent will catch your intention. He also has a strong arm, is extremely athletic and can deliver impressive passes while on the move.<\/p>\n Being that he is an early enrollee who should still be in high school right now, Jackson is obviously not as poised or polished as a veteran like Uiagalelei, but you should be able to notice his potential. Florida State will have a fairly crowded quarterback room when Glenn and Kromenhoek return from their ailments, but Jackson fits in nicely.<\/p>\n 2. Elite speed at WR<\/strong><\/p>\n It won\u2019t take FSU fans long to recognize how different this receiving corps looks compared to the 2023 version.<\/p>\n There are no 6-foot-7 monsters like Johnny Wilson or 6-4 high-jumpers like Keon Coleman, but there is a wealth of speed, which will pair well with Uiagalelei\u2019s arm strength.<\/p>\n Alabama transfer Malik Benson<\/a><\/strong> will be the star of this group by the fall, in my opinion, and he has made big plays in just about every practice and scrimmage. He is very fast and can stretch the field, but he\u2019s also not afraid to go over the middle and make contested catches. <\/p>\n LSU transfer Jalen Brown<\/a><\/strong> doesn\u2019t possess quite the same size \u2014 Benson is a senior and 6-1, 190, while Brown is a redshirt freshman and 6-1, 172 \u2014 but he will be one of the fastest players on the field, and he is a very fluid runner. He frequently gets behind the defensive backs covering him in practices. <\/p>\n When you pair those newcomers with speedy veterans Deuce Spann<\/a><\/strong> and Ja\u2019Khi Douglas<\/a><\/strong>, and then mix in the big bodies like Kentron Poitier<\/a><\/strong> (6-3, 208), Hykeem Williams<\/a><\/strong> (6-2, 210) and Darion Williamson<\/a><\/strong> (6-3, 202), plus an assortment of shiftier wideouts, the Seminoles have an impressive arsenal of targets to work with. <\/p>\n But the big difference this year is the top-end speed, and the number of players who can provide it. (Note: Sophomore Destyn Hill<\/a><\/strong> was injured earlier in the spring and will not be available.)<\/p>\n 3. Ground Game Improving<\/strong><\/p>\n Florida State\u2019s rushing attack has been the backbone of Norvell\u2019s offense since he arrived in Tallahassee over four years ago, but last year\u2019s team wasn\u2019t quite as prolific or consistent. The Seminoles averaged fewer yards-per-carry and yards-per-game than in any of the previous three seasons.<\/p>\n Based on what we\u2019ve seen this spring, the 2024 squad should be able to get the Seminoles back on track. Even in practices where the defense has controlled most of the action, the running game has been impressive. And it hasn\u2019t seemed to matter much which running backs are on the field.<\/p>\n Lawrance Toafili<\/a><\/strong>, Jaylin Lucas<\/a><\/strong>, Roydell Williams<\/a><\/strong> and Caziah Holmes<\/a><\/strong> are likely going to be at the top of the rotation, but redshirt freshman Samuel Singleton<\/a><\/strong> and true freshman Kam Davis<\/a><\/strong> have had very good days as well. The biggest difference this year seems to be the offensive line. They appear to be healthier than they were last fall (although tackle Robert Scott<\/a><\/strong> is still rehabbing this spring), and the new OL transfers are providing a boost.<\/p>\n It will be a shock if the FSU running backs don\u2019t hit some big plays in the Showcase, since they have done that pretty much all spring. Pay special attention to Lucas \u2014 the Indiana transfer is simply a blur and likely the fastest player on the team.<\/p>\n 4. Secondary talks the talk, walks the walk<\/strong><\/p>\n Junior safety Shyheim Brown<\/a><\/strong> has always enjoyed talking trash to his offensive teammates in practice. He is one of those players who continually makes practices more spirited and competitive with his actions and his words.<\/p>\n Well, in 2024, he has a lot of company in that FSU defensive backfield.<\/p>\n Other than senior cornerback Fentrell Cypress<\/a><\/strong>, who is still pretty reserved, every other DB in that segment seems to enjoy challenging receivers \u2014 and the entire offense \u2014 whenever they get the chance. Before plays, after plays, during plays, it doesn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n Second-year secondary coach Patrick Surtain<\/a><\/strong> believes defensive backs should carry elite confidence at all times, even if they just lost a rep, and this position group embodies that. The good news for FSU fans is they don\u2019t lose too many reps.<\/p>\n The only positions in the secondary that would appear to be locked up are Brown at one safety, and Cypress and Azareye\u2019h Thomas<\/a><\/strong> at the corners. That leaves very good competition at the other safety position and at nickel corner, and all of the young cornerbacks are vying to be first off the bench.<\/p>\n For my money, the defensive back room has been the most impressive segment of the spring. And if they have a big day today, you\u2019ll definitely see \u2014 and hear \u2014 them telling the offense about it.<\/p>\n 5. New-look defensive front<\/strong><\/p>\n Even ardent FSU fans might need to keep a printout of the roster handy when they\u2019re checking out the defensive line and linebackers. Several of the Seminoles\u2019 top defensive linemen from a year ago (most notably Jared Verse, Braden Fiske and Fabien Lovett) are gone, a long with multi-year starting linebackers Kalen DeLoach and Tatum Bethune.<\/p>\n That means great opportunities for some younger players, but also an introduction for some newcomers.<\/p>\n At defensive end, Georgia transfer Marvin Jones Jr.<\/a><\/strong> (No. 7) and Oregon State transfer Sione Lolohea<\/a><\/strong> (No. 13) team with returning players Patrick Payton<\/a><\/strong> and Byron Turner<\/a><\/strong> to make up the top four in that rotation. Keep an eye on Jones\u2019 elite speed off the edge and Lolohea\u2019s power \u2014 they both have been impressive this spring.<\/p>\n In the interior of the defensive line, Darrell Jackson<\/a><\/strong> (No. 6) is one of the more impressive physical specimens you will ever see on a football field, and he is clearly motivated to make up for the lost time of not being eligible last season. While veteran Joshua Farmer<\/a><\/strong> (now No. 5) has been limited some this spring, Colorado State transfer Grady Kelly<\/a><\/strong> (No. 90) has fit in well, and West Virginia DE\/DT transfer Tomiwa Durojaiye<\/a><\/strong> (No. 19) is extremely impressive physically. Younger linemen Daniel Lyons<\/a><\/strong> (No. 95) and KJ Sampson<\/a><\/strong> (No. 56) will also be key factors in the rotation. <\/p>\n At linebacker, the top four in the rotation likely will be all returning players who have developed through the program. Senior DJ Lundy<\/a><\/strong> was third behind DeLoach and Bethune last season, so he leads the way. But redshirt sophomore Omar Graham Jr.<\/a><\/strong>, and sophomores Blake Nichelson<\/a><\/strong> and Justin Cryer<\/a><\/strong> have all had strong springs. Alabama transfer Shawn Murphy<\/a><\/strong> is still getting settled in to the new system, but has shown promise.<\/p>\n With so many new faces in that front-six, it stands to reason that the running game has had success this spring. But if you evaluate the defensive players individually, that likely has much more to do with continuity and communication than lack of ability. The names and faces are different, but there\u2019s a lot to like about the size and athletic ability of this year\u2019s bunch.<\/p>\n Senior DJ Lundy leads the FSU linebacker corps into 2024. (Gene Williams\/Warchant)<\/p>\n Talk about this story with other die-hard Florida State football fans on the Tribal Council.<\/strong><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n The post 5 Things To Watch in FSU Football\u2019s Spring Showcase<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After a month of practice, the 2024 FSU football team will be unveiled publicly for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48419"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48419\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48443,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48419\/revisions\/48443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}