FSU Football: Defensive Line Spring Preview

FSU football is just one day away from starting spring football practice, with one of the positions with the most questions is the defensive line.

During the 2014 college football season, FSU football was able to go undefeated throughout the regular season despite the poor play of their defense. In 2015, things changed big time as defensive coordinator Charles Kelly was able to turn things around and finish the year with a top 15 group overall (allowing more than just 25 points just once all season in their Peach Bowl loss to Houston).

One of the reasons for the improved play was the difference in performance from the defensive line. It’s a unit that got to the quarterback a lot more in 2015 than it did the year before. At the same point, it’s also a group that will be losing several starters to the NFL come this April’s draft, something they have had to get adjusted to doing over the past three seasons since the team’s improved play overall under head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Let’s take a look at each position on the line and who will step up for the ‘Noles in 2016.

Defensive Ends

On the edge, FSU football may have the most athletic group of players in recent history (if not ever). This position got a huge boost for 2016 when DeMarcus Walker announced that he would return for his senior season after a monster 2015. On the other side, Josh Sweat bounced back from injury and lived up to the hype as one of the top recruits in the 2015 signing class to end the year in the starting lineup. Chris Casher and Lorenzo Featherson provided depth at the position when they were healthy and can spell Walker and Sweat without losing a step.

In their 2016 signing class, FSU football added more depth at the position with five star prospects Janarius Robinson (Panama City, Florida) and Brian Burns (Plantation, Florida), making it almost unfair how many great players will be on the edge this season. All the players have the flexibility and skills to drop back and play linebacker where needed, keeping opposing offenses on their feet and not knowing what look Kelly will bring on a given play.

Defensive Tackles

FSU football loses two stars as both Gio Newberry and Nile Lawrence-Stample depart for the pros (where they both won’t have to wait very long to hear their names being called). It isn’t as if they are leaving the cupboard bare for the 2016 Seminoles, who added to the already stacked group with some of the nation’s top recruits.

Returning from last season will include players like Demarcus Christmas and Derrick Nnadi, who saw plenty of time on the field last season and will be ready to take over the lead at this position entering spring ball. The unit did take a hit when Keith Bryant, a redshirt junior from Delray Beach, broke his foot and will be out for spring practice but should be ready to return for the fall.

The 2016 class brought in two of the top players at the position in the entire country, as both JuCo star and South Florida native Walvenski Aimé and top high school prospect Shavar Manuel (Tampa, Florida) both decided to sign with the ‘Noles. It was an added bonus when Manuel made his Signing Day decision to flip from the rival Florida Gators to FSU football, saying it had been planned for weeks. Another recruit flying under the radar is four star prospect and Tallahassee native Cedric Wood, who may end up being the best out of the whole group when his time is done with the Seminoles.