Amari Gainer returning to FSU for 2022 season reaction

FSU football received some great news Monday afternoon when senior linebacker Amari Gainer announced he plans to return for the 2022 season.

Gainer is the second upper-classman to announce his return with senior defensive tackle Robert Cooper.

Both players were four-star recruits in the 2018 recruiting class. FSU fans patiently wait to find out the verdict for two more players who could return next year in Fabien Lovett Jammie Robinson.

Gainer announced via his Twitter account:

I’ve always liked Amari Gainer going back to his days of leading Tribe18 when things were not looking so hot for the program as Jimbo Fisher left. Gainer returns a ton of experience, but his defensive position has been difficult to nail down over the past couple of years. He’s sort of a tweener, not quite big enough to play the edge, and not quite suited to play a regular linebacker spot.

Amari Gainer is at his best when he knows where the ball is and swarming downhill. He led the team in tackles in limited reps through the 2020 season and was fifth in tackles through 2021. Gainer lists at 6’3 and 237 pounds, so I think his best position in 2022 will be coming off the edge, especially since FSU loses a ton of production with the departures of Jermaine Johnson and Keir Thomas.

If Gainer hits the weights and adds 5-10 pounds, I think that’s where he could add the most defensive value. The other aspect of Gainer returning is the continued perception of players buying into Mike Norvell’s vision. Just think of how many players have opted to hit the transfer portal over the past year.

Yet, the players with solid production that could potentially find another home elsewhere have elected to stay in Tallahassee. If the staff address the defensive end and linebacker positions in the transfer portal and sign elite players like Marvin Jones Jr.?

The defense should continue to take another step towards getting back to elite status.