Fall Camp Preview: Five players looking to step up this year

Nov 8, 2012; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end Bjoern Werner (95) and defensive back Terrence Brooks (31) and linebacker Telvin Smith (22) celebrate after defensive back Tyler Hunter (1) intercepts a pass near the end of the game as Virginia Tech Hokies wide receivers Corey Fuller (83) and Marcus Davis (7) look on. The Seminoles defeated the Hokies 28-22 at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2014 football season just around the corner and FSU just days away from kicking off its Fall camp, there are plenty of players looking to step up.

The rest of the country may see Florida State as the team to beat this season — yesterday the preseason Coaches Poll was released with Florida State garnering 56 of 62 first place votes and the nation’s top ranking — but that doesn’t mean FSU won’t have its own issues to handle before the games kick off at the end of the month. As we continue our Fall Camp Preview, we turn our attention to the players looking to step up at FSU this season and fill some of the voids left behind by graduates and early departures.

FSU’s losses were considerable after last year’s championship run, especially on offense. The ‘Noles lost a 1,000 yard rusher in Devonta Freeman and another solid back in James Wilder — the two accounted for over 1,500 yards and 22 rushing touchdowns last year. FSU will also be without two-thirds of their receiving corps from last season’s championship team — Kenny Shaw and Kelvin Benjamin combined for nearly 2,000 yards and 21 receiving touchdowns. Throw in the losses of a Rimington award winner at center and a highly underrated fullback and the Seminole offense is looking to replace over 4,000 total yards and 47 touchdowns from last season.

Defensively, the losses of Telvin Smith, Christian Jones, Tim Jernigan, Lamarcus Joyner and Terrence Brooks will hurt, but FSU’s cupboard is stocked. Replacing the talent on the field will not be as much of a problem for FSU — especially in the secondary, where the Seminoles are amongst the most talented in the nation — as replacing the leadership Florida State’s departing defenders provided.

Let’s take a look at five players looking to step up up this year. Click the arrows at the top of the page or use the “left” and “right” keys on your keyboard.