As FSU Football hurdles toward spring football, we will take a deep dive on the projected starters come March 10th.
This roster has undergone significant changes, and they are mainly on the defensive side.
Of eight transfers thus far, five have been on the defensive side, and three in secondary. There was an argument for misappropriating roster spots with glaring needs across the offensive line, but there was an immediate necessity to improve the 107th defense in FBS.
Improving starts in the trenches, and we’ll address that next week. I want to focus on the linebackers and defensive secondary.
As this team switches to the 4-2-5 defensive scheme (Nickel), the depth chart is ambiguous in some areas. There are questions of usage, versatility, and capability all around the defense.
There will be a running theme of squinting through this defense to find the Rorschach pattern to help me see improvement. Much of this team has limited snaps in garnet and gold and are either transfers or underclassmen.
This unit is a mixture, but is that better than having young players thrown into the fire and learning on the job? I think we will see the answer unfold this spring and fall.
This defense is full of unproven commodities, and somehow the coaches have to come up with seven or eight starters by September 5th.
These projections are my best guess of where the staff will go and with who.
Mike LB: Stephen Dix Jr., DJ Lundy
Will LB: Emmett Rice, Amari Gainer, Jaleel McRae, Jayion McCluster
In 4-3 defense, Stud LB: Amari Gainer, Kalen Deloach, There is a good rotation of guys. I included the stud position but it’s not part of a 4-2-5 defense, and you can’t justify leaving Gainer on the bench when he is one of the best players.
He will likely play more at the WILL position if the Noles move to the 4-2-5 defense. Deloach will likely serve as depth have to move and I think he will get time at WILL to bring some depth to the position.
Jayion McCluster redshirted last season and will look to carve out a role somewhere and could be a contributor on special teams as well. He won the defensive scout team award last season.
Getting Rice back was major. As the youth develops, returning leadership is key and was akin to adding another transfer. This move helped to save a scholarship spot for an offensive tackle or another position of need.
McRae is encouraging. He made his first start while contributing as a reserve his first two years in the program. I’ll be excited to see what the former four-star can do when he gets starting minutes.
I have talked glowingly about Lundy and Dix in other articles, and I think they are only scratching the surface of their capabilities.
Boundary CB: Brandon Moore, Jarques McClellion, Jarrian Jones
Field CB: Jarvis Brownlee, Demorie Tate, Akeem Dent
Nickel CB: Jammie Robinson, Jarvis Brownlee Jr, Kevin Knowles II
This unit was dreadful last season. The lone bright spot was Asante Samuel Jr., who’ll likely be an early selection in the upcoming NFL Draft.
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This unit should improve with the infusion of talent and the staff addressing the need at pass rush. The staff brought in some potential instant starters via the transfer portal and this will give enough time for the young players to develop behind them.
Brandon Moore would be the obvious choice to start at the boundary position provided he’s healthy. He has the size and is experienced with a good NFL draft grade before an injury sidelined him at UCF.
At the same time, if he is limited, I feel confident in Jarques McClellion’s capabilities. He is a longer and bigger corner who plays physical, as he recorded 59 tackles and 11 pass break-ups in two years at Arkansas.
Jarrian Jones is a talented player but played with some injuries last season. I like his ball skills on tape and his aggressiveness at the line. Hopefully, the scheme allows him to embrace that as he tries to regain confidence.
Jarvis Brownlee played the Nickel position a lot for the Noles last season but has the skills to play the field corner position. He plays with confidence and should be able to step into a bigger role in 2021. I can see him in both spots as the Noles look to get the best combination of players on the field.
I like what Demorie Tate brings off of his redshirt season. He is raw but has good size and length and was the last top 100 player the Noles have signed in the secondary since the 2018 recruiting cycle. He had to academically redshirt last year but should push for playing time in 2021.
Meiko Dotson returning in 2021 is great for depth after battling injuries last season. He could see some snaps if he can avoid the injury bug. Akeem Dent should be in the mix as well, and needs to find his confidence after an abysmal 2020 season.
Jammie Robinson mentioned he is likely playing the Nickel cornerback spot, but he can slide up to safety if needed as well. I’ve mentioned Brownlee, but freshman Kevin Knowles II could be a factor since he was an early enrollee.
Buck Safety: Travis Jay, Jammie Robinson, Sidney Williams
Field Safety: Brendan Gant, Renardo Green, Jadarius Green-McKnight
Travis Jay improved a lot as the season went on and he got healthy. The former Top 150 prospect has shown a lot of promise and could make a massive jump whether he is at nickel or safety.
Williams was a late addition in the 2020 recruiting class and saw snaps later in the season. Can he find more playing time in 2021?
I see Gant and Green as a 1A and 1B. I favor Gant more because of his physicality and ability to have a nose for the ball.
However, Green does better in coverage. Green played in all 13 games as a true freshman and started the first five games before an injury sidelined him.
One unknown variable is Jadarius Green-McKnight. He saw action in five games last season and reminds me of Jammie Robinson in terms of size and ability.
The back-end of secondary has talent, now it’s all about becoming disciplined in their assignments and proper communication.