FSU football: Fans react to Fabien Lovett returning for 2023 season

FSU football had a handful of players that could either enter the NFL Draft or return for the 2023 season.

All-ACC safety Jammie Robinson announced he’ll enter the 2023 NFL Draft minutes after the New Year came in. However, All-ACC defensive tackle announced he’ll return to the Noles for the 2023 season just a few hours later Sunday morning.

Robinson played in the the bowl game against Oklahoma and turned in a massive performance to help lead the Noles to victory.

It was a surprise when Fabien Lovett wasn’t dressed out to play in the game. However, the word is he had a procedure on the foot he injured early in the season.

Lovett played in the first two games and didn’t return to action until after FSU’s bye week against Georgia Tech.

Fan Reaction

Lovett was FSU’s best defensive tackle, and his absence was felt in the three-game losing streak in the middle of the season as teams gashed the Noles up the middle. It was felt in the bowl game as Oklahoma rushed for the second-highest rushing total the FSU defense has allowed all season.

Lovett played in 11 of 12 games last year, and FSU’s run defense was top 30, allowing 3.64 yards per rush.

He only appeared in seven games this year, and FSU’s run defense fell to No. 58 at 3.96 yards per rush allowed. The Noles allowed over 150 rushing yards six times this year, and Lovett only played in one of those games. Lovett returning, along with new additions from the transfer portal in Darrell Jackson(if he gets his waiver) and Braden Fiske, forms a formidable trio up front.

Not to mention other players like Joshua Farmer, Dennis Briggs, Malcolm Ray, Daniel Lyons, and Ayobami Tifase.

That’s depth at the position FSU hasn’t seen in years. It’ll also give those younger players a chance to keep developing without having to depend on them for more snaps than they should be playing.

The run defense will be better, which should help the linebackers and FSU secondary. It seems everything is lining up for FSU to make a run for it all in 2023.