FSU football had a semi-resurgence in 2019 offensively, Chop Chat’s Sam Tschida takes a look at who FSU fans should expect to see on the offensive line in 2020.
It has been well-documented that Florida State has struggled on the offensive line in recent years.
For the past five seasons, the ‘Noles offense has been handicapped by the o-line, who have ranged from average to just plain terrible.
Since 2015, FSU has had only two offensive linemen drafted to the NFL, after seeing a total of eight drafted during the five seasons prior.
After 2018 where the ‘Noles were one of the worst offensive lines in the Power Five, the o-line saw marginal improvements this past season under new coach Randy Clements.
The tempo in Kendal Briles offense did a good job of hiding some of the line’s deficiencies, which helped the offense finish 45th in offensive SP+.
This was a massive improvement from 2018 when the ‘Noles 97th in offensive SP+ and part of that improvement is from a better offensive line.
The improvement was a combination of new faces, fewer injuries, and player development.
Freshmen Dontae Lucas and Darius Washington both showcased potential on the field, while transfer Ryan Roberts and a healthy Cole Minshew were both able to hold their own in the trenches.
Add that in with better play from returnees like Brady Scott, and the line did look at least somewhat better.
With the departure of Roberts, backups Jauan Williams, Abdul Bello, and Minshew, along with possible other transfers, who should FSU expect to see on the o-line next season?
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.
Guard
Guard was one of the few consistent positions last season. Dontae Lucas started the majority of the season, as did junior Brady Scott, who started opposite of Lucas at right guard.
Senior Mike Arnold, who started the majority of 2018 as a sophomore, also received playing time, although slowly lost snaps to Lucas as the season went on. Scott split time as a tackle and guard in 2018 before playing mostly guard last season.
Unlike at tackle, the guard spot does have a lot of depth. Along with Lucas and Scott returning, redshirt freshmen Ira Henry and Maurice Smith add depth, as do incoming recruits Thomas Schrader and Zane Herring.
Both Herring and Schrader are high-end three stars will eventually add depth with more work in the strength and conditioning program.
Christian Meadows, a former four-star recruit who is now a redshirt sophomore, has not gotten significant playing time but will also provide depth.
FSU fans should expect Lucas to once again start at either left or right guard, and if he recovers well from injury, contend for an all-conference selection.
Brady Scott should be in-line to start at the other guard spot barring a graduate transfer, but it would not be surprising to see some of the underclassmen contend for the starting job during fall camp.
Center
Longtime center Alec Eberle graduated in 2018, leaving the starting center position open. Redshirt senior Baveon Johnson won it during fall camp last season and proceeded to start 11 games this past season. Johnson was decent during the season, but not always consistent game-to-game and got blew off the ball a bit too much.
He split time with senior Andrew Boselli, who returned to the team after a year away. Boselli started two games in Johnson’s absence, and did well, posting a fantastic 85.5 pass-blocking grade against Syracuse in his first start.
Neither Boselli or Johnson are All-American type players, but they are at least reliable, and whichever one starts next season will have a capable backup behind them. Maurice Smith, who also saw time at guard last season, will most likely be the emergency center.
Expect Johnson to start, but it would not be a shock to see Boselli get the starting job after fall camp.