FSU will enter fall camp in just a few days. The Seminoles will enter camp with clear starters at a number of positions on each side of the ball, but there are also starting spots and spots in the rotation at certain positions that will play itself out during camp. Here are some position battles on offense that I will be keeping an eye on this fall.
Quarterback
Tommy Castellanos is the clear starter going into camp — there is no question about that. The question here: Who will be the backup to Castellanos? This is an important question for a couple of reasons.
First, FSU has used three different starting quarterbacks over the last three years, mostly due to injury, and the results have not been great with the back up on the field.
Second, Castellanos is smallish and will be utilized in the run game, which increases his chances of missing some time (be it a play, a couple plays, series or even games). With what FSU and Norvell have riding on this season, if a backup is needed in crunch time they need to be able to come through regardless of the duration of their stint behind center.
Third, Castellanos has averaged more than 15 turnovers per year over the last two seasons and last year and he lost his starting job in November before entering the transfer portal, where he landed at FSU.
Brock Glenn has the inside track heading into camp with the staff wanting to redshirt both Kevin Sperry and Jaylen King. But whoever proves himself to be the next best guy in camp will need to be more than ready to be the next man up come Aug. 30.
Wide Receiver
This will be interesting from both a starters’ perspective and a rotational perspective.
Senior Squirrel White is the only real proven commodity at the major college level and should be the starter at the slot position.
USC transfer Duce Robinson did have 23 catches last year for the Trojans and got rave reviews when he was healthy during spring practice. He is projected to be the starter at one outside spot. Who is the third starting wide receiver for FSU? Will it be freshman Jayvan Boggs, UNC transfer Gavin Blackwell, sophomore Lawayne McCoy or redshirt freshman Elijah Moore?
Jaylin Lucas looks to figure into the rotation as well, although he will get some reps at running back. All will be given the chance to fill that role.
Some wild cards further down the depth chart that might factor in the two-deep are Micahi Danzy, Camdon Frier and Willy Suarez.
Offensive Line
The offensive line looks set at both tackle spots with Gunnar Hansen and Micah Pettus penciled in there. At center it would be a huge surprise if anyone made a real push for what is expected to Luke Petitbon’s spot.
Richie Leonard and Adrian Medley will enter camp as the projected starters at guard, but I think it’s possible one or both could be pushed in fall camp. And there are some interesting candidates that will be fighting for a chance including Andre Otto, Jacob Rizy, Manasse Itete, Jayden Todd or Josh Raymond. And I think it is a good thing if there is some real competition behind two very experienced players. It will mean that one or more of those younger offensive linemen have taken the next step in their development.
It will also be interesting to see who the backup tackles will be coming out of camp. Is Lucas Simmons ready to play meaningful snaps in his third year on campus? Will Jonathan Daniels or Tye Hylton be ready to go if called upon?
Building competitive depth here is vital. All you have to do is look back to last year to see what an ineffective offensive line can do to a team’s fortunes.
Running Back
It is a little crowded in the running back room after the post-spring transfer of Gavin Sawchuk from Oklahoma. Sawchuk was not brought in to ride the bench, so I have him as a co-starter at the very least along with Roydell Williams heading into camp. The question here is who else gets a shot in the rotation.
Last year at UCF, Gus Malzahn’s backup running back only played about 20 percent of the Knights’ offensive plays from scrimmage. The top backs in FSU’s offense will get the majority of the workload if that pattern holds true again this season.
Jaylin Lucas will be used as a change-of-pace back, but I think it is likely he sees more time in the slot than in the backfield. Who will be the third back for FSU? Will it be Kam Davis, Sam Singleton, Caziah Holmes or Ousmane Kromah? There will likely be ripple effects of how this plays out in December.
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