FSU football: Improved or not? Position rankings compared to 2021
By Kelvin Hunt
Defensive Line May Slightly Regress From 2021
I had to give props to Odell Haggins and Coach JP last season because that’s the best the defensive line has looked in years.
However, it helped to have players like Jermaine Johnson and Keir Thomas onboard. This poses the biggest question. How will they replace that type of production?
They won’t be able to because there isn’t a first-round draft pick at the defensive end, although one could potentially get there. Fabien Lovett and Robert Cooper returning for 2022 were massive, and moving Dennis Briggs back to defensive end was a move that will pay dividends.
Malcolm Ray and Jarrett Jackson got much-needed experience last year and shouldn’t be too much of a drop-off when they’re in the game.
Joshua Farmer will get reps too. I think Briggs could be similar to what Thomas was last year. The combination of Jared Verse, Derrick McLendon, and Patrick Payton is talented and could surprise folks.
There are just many unknowns when it comes to the pass rush, but there’s potential. There was potential last year, and we saw that come to fruition.
Overall, I think this unit will be really good, especially against the run, but that’s a lot of production to replace to say they’ll be improved or better than 2021.