Florida State’s new-look offensive line has looked a lot like the line of 2024 and 2025: A few positives and some cohesion but too much pressure allowed on the quarterback.
The Seminoles tried to use FCS transfer Chimdia Nwaiwu at right tackle, but he didn’t hold up in pass protection in the opener against New Mexico State. Coach Mike Norvell and the staff kept the same starting lineup against SMU but Nwaiwu was benched early in the third quarter.
“We made a change midway through the game,” Norvell said on Thursday. “I thought there were some positives that came from that. But every day those guys are showing up. There was a reason we started the way we started and obviously there’s a reason we made the change within it.”
The first question to Norvell about the line yielded no response in terms of specific names, a specific reason why Nwaiwu started in the 27-24 loss to SMU or why he was then sat down. But Nwaiwu gave up a costly sack in the third quarter and was clearly frustrated.
Pabst made his 40th career start, with 38 of those coming in five seasons at Bowling Green. A captain on the Falcons’ 2025 team, Pabst played 493 snaps at right tackle and 273 at right guard and was a second-team All-MAC selection.
He started FSU’s first two games at right guard, but then slid into the right tackle spot in the third quarter (Troy transfer Paul Bowling jumped in at right guard). FSU’s offense was able to move the ball well on two touchdown drives with Pabst at right tackle, scoring a touchdown off the muffed punt (a 29-yard drive) and then two drives later going 75 yards on eight plays over four minutes and 20 seconds.
The touchdown drives with Pabst and Bowling were positives, one resulting in an Ousmane Kromah TD run and another in Ashton Daniels’ TD pass to Samuel Singleton Jr. Other drives ended quickly after three or four plays and reflect the line’s struggles and the issues in the passing game.
When asked in a follow-up question if Norvell liked what he had seen with Pabst at right tackle and Bowling at right guard, he offered a few more thoughts.
“We’re going to look for the best grouping,” Norvell said. “Nate probably has the most flexibility along our offensive line. He’s got great experience. He’s played well in two games. He’s showed really good capabilities and I’m proud of how he’s come into the program and what he’s been able to do.
“At the end of the day, we’re going to play the best guys that we have. Nate has that capability to be able to jump out (to tackle).”
Left tackle Xavier Chaplin earned the best grade from Pro Football Focus (72.6) of any of FSU’s offensive linemen. Pabst graded at 63.8, although PFF didn’t separate his marks based on guard and tackle.
Norvell reiterated that competition continues on the practice field and that Seminoles were “getting challenged” on the line and at other spots. As far as whether Pabst is the right tackle when FSU travels to Alabama on Sept. 19 (3:30 p.m. on ABC), Norvell didn’t commit to him or other options.
FSU has struggled to develop homegrown offensive tackles the last few years, with the coaches leaning on the portal in 2025 (Gunnar Hansen and Micah Pettus) and 2026 (Chaplin, Pabst and Nwaiwu). The Seminoles list sophomore Chastan Brown and junior Jonathan Daniels on the depth chart as backups tackles, although neither has played meaningful snaps this year or previously.
Ultimately, his decision on who starts against Alabama will be based on “those five guys that will be able to play as one and just how they operate, what they do especially against talented fronts,” the coach said. Norvell also said Thursday he wants to see competition and growth.
“Want to see guys that are solely tackles continue to grow in that regard,” Norvell said. “We’re going to do what we feel is best to get the best five guys out there.”
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