12 | 2023 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL GUIDE
FLORIDA STATE Tallahassee, FL
2022 RECORD: 10-3 (5-3) FOUNDED: 1851 STADIUM: Doak Campbell Stadium (79,560)
HEAD COACH: Mike Norvell OC: Alex Atkins DC: Adam Fuller
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
In the Bobby Bowden Era glory years, the offensive line was the anchor of spectacular offenses in Tallahassee. That offensive line standard is once again met this season. Center Maurice Smith anchors the unit, Bless Harris is returning from an injury, and transfers Casey Roddick and Jeremiah Byers complete the group. The offense averaged an amazing seven yards a snap and converted 51.2 percent on third down last season and don’t expect that to change this season. Jordan Travis threw for 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns with just five picks. Trey Benson ran for 990 yards and Lawrance Toafili added 457 yards in limited action. The receiving corps is just short of spectacular with holdovers Johnny Wilson and Kentron Poitier, who both averaged more than 20 yards a catch, and transfers Keon Coleman (58 catches with Michigan State) and Jaheim Bell, a tight end.
If the Seminoles are to dethrone Clemson in the ACC and find their way into the national playoff, the defense must improve from last season, especially against the run. The secondary should be second to none in the ACC. The line is stocked with playmakers as well, so throwing against Florida State this season will not be easy. Greedy Vance Jr., Renardo Green and Akeem Dent can play with anyone, but the best player is probably Fentrell Cypress II, a transfer from ACC rival Virginia. Cypress received All-ACC honors and led the conference with 14 pass breakups while playing in only nine games. Jared Verse, a transfer from Albany last year, had a tremendous season with 17 tackles for loss. He and Fabien Lovett spend quite a bit of time in opponents’ backfields. Transfer Braden Fiske from Western Michigan should make that even easier this season.
DEPTH CHART
DEPTH CHART
NO 13 3 14 4 1 6 58 70 53 71 63
PLAYER Jordan Travis Trey Benson Johnny Wilson Keon Coleman Winston Wright Jr. Jaheim Bell Bless Harris Casey Roddick Maurice Smith D’Mitri Emmanuel Jeremiah Byers
POS QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT
HT 6-1 6-1 6-7 6-4 5-10 6-3 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-4
WT 212 221 235 215 192 238 325 313 295 304 329
CLASS SR JR JR JR JR JR SR SR JR SR JR
NO 11 0 55 5 15 4 8 23 1 38 21
PLAYER Patrick Payton Fabien Lovett Sr. Braden Fiske Jared Verse Tatum Bethune Kalen DeLoach Renardo Green Fentrell Cypress II Akeem Dent Shyheim Brown Greedy Vance Jr.
POS DE DT DT DE LB LB CB CB S S NB
HT 6-5 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-2 5-11
WT 247 328 305 251 229 211 188 187 196 217 174
CLASS SO SR SR JR SR SR SR JR SR SO JR
18 9 88 0 21 84 52 54 76 75 72
Tate Rodemaker QB Lawrance Toafili RB Kentron Poitier WR Ja’Khi Douglas WR Darion Williamson WR Kyle Morlock TE Robert Scott Jr. LT Jaylen Early LG Darius Washington C Keiondre Jones RG Julian Armella RT
6-4 6-0 6-3 5-9 6-3 6-6 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-6
200 191 205 193 200 242 304 303 300 332 328
JR JR JR JR SR JR JR FR JR JR FR
54 6 14 19 10 36 20 7 12 24 3
Byron Turner Jr. Dennis Briggs Jr. Darrell Jackson Jr. Gilber Edmond DJ Lundy Omar Graham Jr. Azareye’h Thomas Jarrian Jones Conrad Hussey K.J. Kirkland Kevin Knowles II
DE DT DT DE LB LB CB CB S S NB
6-4 6-4 6-5 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-1 5-11
237 284 326 245 239 223 187 198 195 196 183
SO SR JR JR JR FR SO SR FR FR JR
88 29
Ryan Fitzgerald K Alex Mastromanno P
197 245
JR JR
3 0
Trey Benson Ja’Khi Douglas
221 193
JR JR
SPECIAL TEAMS 6-1 6-1
2023 SCHEDULE S.3 .................. LSU (Orlando)
O.21 ................................Duke
S.9 ..................Southern Miss
O.28 ............. at Wake Forest
S.16 ........ at Boston College
N.4 ................... at Pittsburgh
S.23 .....................at Clemson
N.11 ..............................Miami
O.7 ....................Virginia Tech
N.18 ............North Alabama
O.14 .........................Syracuse
N.25 ........................at Florida
SPECIAL TEAMS KR PR
6-1 5-9
NEWCOMERS Fentrell Cypress II — The former Virginia standout can’t wait to get on the field with fellow studs on defense. Jaheim Bell, TE — The transfer from South Carolina had 55 catches for 728 yards and seven touchdowns over the past two seasons. He rushed 73 times for 261 yards as well last season. K.J. Kirkland, DB — Kirkland leads a strong freshman class of defensive backs this season. He will find some playing time in a crowded and talented secondary.
