Florida State’s offensive line has had some injuries in preseason camp, with coach Mike Norvell mentioning Bradyn Welch-Joiner and Andre Otto among those who each missed time. But the Seminoles enjoyed a relatively healthy spring practice window and have been able to build cohesion in August.

Second-year offensive line coach Herb Hand is far from a happy man — “We’re getting there. We’ll be fine by the time we get ready to kick it off,” he said — and he stopped short of saying FSU’s starting five is settled for the opener on Aug. 29 against New Mexico State. But to the annual storyline of cohesion on the line, he feels good about the opportunities FSU’s linemen have had.

“Availability is one of your greatest abilities, particularly at offensive line,” Hand said. “The next one would probably be durability. And neither of those two things have anything to do with talent. They just have to do with how tough you are and how much you can strain your body and still be available. But certainly when guys are able to work together, whether it’s inside three guys, with all the movement stuff. Those inside three have to have one set of eyes, one heartbeat.

“The cohesion is so important. The only way you can have it is by repping together. You can watch all the film you want, you can talk about it all you want. But until you go out and experience it together, the best learning is experiential learning.”

FSU has acquired experience with Nate Pabst (38 starts at Bowling Green), Xavier Chaplin (37 starts between Va. Tech and Auburn), Joiner (17 starts between Auburn and Purdue) and Paul Bowling (17 starts at Troy). That’s 109 FBS starts, not counting Chimdia Nwaiwu and his 13 starts at FCS program Stephen F. Austin.

Pabst described how building cohesion takes time. In the spring, he relayed that Hand uses the term “independent contractor.”

“It was kind of the vibe of independent contractors,” Pabst said. “You have some guys coming in, they’re starting at a new place. We were all learning the playbook together.”

But after working alongside the likes of Joiner and Chavez Thompson at center, Pabst gained a level of communication that can only be built through daily reps. There is the distinction between college football experience and experiential learning alongside the linemen who will be alongside each other on game days this fall.

Andre’ Otto also has a pair of starts from 2024 at FSU — one at left guard and another at right guard. Otto is a fourth-year lineman, working with Hand in 2025. He was asked to lead the group, a role that suits Otto’s personality well.

“The guys have come in and they’ve meshed really really well,” Otto said. “They understand the standard. They know what to do and what we expect out of them. I’m here to uphold the standard and they’re doing a really good job of following it.”

FSU’s most consistent OL in camp

When asked who was his most consistent lineman, Hand hesitated and joked that it’s like fielding a question about your favorite child. But he picked Pabst, who has starting experience at Bowling Green at guard and tackle and was an All-MAC second-team selection in 2025.

“Nate’s just a solid lunch-pail dude that comes to work every day,” Hand said. “He’s a vet. You can tell that he’s played a lot of football, a 38-game starter at his previous place. They did a great job with him. I’m glad we have him. Just from a consistency standpoint and every day guy that you could count on, probably him.”

Pabst said he feels good about his camp, learning how to use his hands better and focusing on aspects of his technique.

“The job of a great offensive lineman is to be consistent no matter what,” Pabst said. “So when you do have that bad rep, next play, learn from it. Get better. I think that’s been a big point of emphasis for us with this unit, too.”

A developing tackle

The appeal to Nwaiwu is how he performed at the FCS level (82.5 percent blocker by Pro Football Focus) and his size at 6-foot-5 and 307 pounds. Nwaiwu would have a fifth year in 2027 based on the NCAA’s new 5-in-5 eligibility policy.

But Hand also noted that Nwaiwu played at Stephen F. Austin for line coach Garrett Graf, who had previously been a University of Texas graduate assistant when Hand was the line coach. Since Hand and Graf use the same terminology, Nwaiwu has an advantage there.

“Super athletic,” Hand said. “He’s got a very high give-a-crap factor. He wants to be an elite player. He still has to play with a greater anchor at times. He’s a strainer. He likes to work. He likes to practice. He was very well prepared by Garrett Graf.”

FSU’s returning starter

Otto started a few games at FSU in 2024 and earned some playing time last fall. In another example of the small world of college football, Hand tried to recruit Otto out of high school to UCF and brought him in for a visit to Orlando.

“He’s become a much more mature player,” Hand said. “From a leadership standpoint, he’s taken the reins. We’ve challenged him in that regard. From an attention to detail standpoint, just in technique, fundamentals, assignments, he’s grown as a player. Things he still needs to work on, hand placement, a little bit wide at times. He’s been working on that and trying to correct that.”

FSU’s starting five linemen

While Hand didn’t give his starting five on Wednesday, a depth chart will offer some clarity on Monday as FSU begins game week. The Osceola’s projection, from left: Chaplin, Otto, Joiner (if healthy), Pabst and Nwaiwu. We could also see Pabst and Nwaiwu swap the guard and tackle spots. Backup center options include Thompson and Bowling.

Developing depth

Hand mentioned Bowling, Thompson, Jonathan Daniels, Jayden Todd and Sean Poret as five linemen who are making progress. Except for Bowling, the other four are homegrown options. That’s a welcome sight considering FSU’s frequent dependence on the transfer portal the last few years on the line.

“Those guys are all developing,” Hand said. “They’re all getting better. That’s what you want to see.”

Bowling has played center and guard at Troy. Thompson is viewed as a true center. Daniels is projected as a tackle, while Todd is viewed as a guard. Poret has worked at a number of spots along the line.

“One person that I like that’s really stepped up as of late is Sean Poret,” Otto said last week. “He has been playing multiple positions and he’s been really balling out at them.”

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