FSU Football: What will the offensive line look like in 2020?

Tackle

The offensive tackle position has been the biggest issue for the ‘Noles over the last few seasons. Injuries and lack of player development have severely hurt the depth at tackle, and just one injury to right tackle Landon Dickerson in 2018  seemed to derail the entire offense.

With the departure of Roberts, who graded out at a 57.5  last season according to Pro Football Focus, Abdul Bello (39.5), returns at the tackle spot that lacks depth once again.

Darius Washington, who redshirted last year due to a shoulder injury, returns as do RS sophomores Jalen Goss and Chaz Neal. Both Neal and Goss have yet to see significant playing time and Goss needs to add serious weight before that happens.

Senior Jay Williams, who transferred in from the JUCO ranks last year, also returns but only played a few snaps last season.

The ‘Noles will bring in several new faces at offensive tackle. Lloyd Willis, a three-star from Miami is an early-enrollee this offseason.

Willis is a massive prospect, standing 6’7 and weighing 310, but projects as a multi-year project who will most likely redshirt. Deontay Love-Taylor, a graduate transfer from FIU, will come into Tallahassee as the most-likely starter. Taylor was a 2nd-team all-C-USA tackle last season and will replace Roberts as the Seminoles’ most reliable tackle.

The other tackle spot is more of a question. There are several graduate-transfer tackles in the portal right now who would become instant starters if they transferred to Tallahassee. Several players, like Henry Hattis out of Stanford and Clayton Bradley out of USC look like possible takes by Mike Norvell’s staff.

Rest assured, with limited depth at tackle, the ‘Noles will most likely be taking a grad transfer.

This means that the starters next season, barring injury, will most likely be two graduate transfers.

Love-Taylor had an average grade of 74.2 according to PFF, considered above average, and did a good job handling Miami pass rusher Gregory Rousseau when FIU beat the ‘Canes. Although Washington showed a lot of potential in limited playing time, he should get another season to develop.