FSU football: The narrative has changed for the Noles’ offensive line

The narrative has changed around FSU football since they achieved a 10-3 record during the 2022 season. However, the perspective on the Seminoles’ offensive line has steadily changed over the last few seasons.

That change is in large part to the development of Florida State offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins, assistant offensive line coach Cooper Williams and Senior Offensive Analyst Gabriel Fertitta.

It seems like yesterday that former FSU quarterback Deondre Francois was getting hit on virtually every snap.

At one point, the national media suggested that the Seminoles had one of the worst offensive line units in the country.

Just to put everything in perspective, Florida State allowed 2.77 sacks per game (106th in the FBS) in 2016 and only allowed 1.54 sacks per game (38th in the FBS) in 2022.

The Florida State Seminoles became very active in the transfer portal this offseason in regards to acquiring depth on their offensive line. As a result, the Seminoles were able to obtain interior offensive linemen Casey Roddick (Colorado) and Keiondre Jones (Auburn) as well as offensive tackle Jeremiah Byers (UTEP). Not to mention, Florida State secured the signings of four-star offensive tackle Lucas Simmons and three-star offensive tackle Andre Otto (enrolling during the summer) in their 2023 recruiting class.

While the Seminoles have to replace the services of interior offensive linemen Dillan Gibbons and Kayden Lyles (who did not play during the 2022 season due to injury) as well as offensive tackle Jazston Turnetine, the richer keep getting richer, as starting interior offensive lineman D’Mitri Emmanuel was able to get a waiver to approve his seventh season of collegiate football (first reported by Seminoles.com). The former Charlotte offensive lineman transfer started every game for the Seminoles in 2022.

As we navigate into the 2023 season, Alex Atkins has the luxury of having quality depth at the position unit. Florida State has seventeen scholarship offensive linemen on its roster. The Seminoles have three starting offensive linemen from a season ago in interior offensive lineman D’Mitri Emmanuel and Maurice Smith, as well as offensive tackle Robert Scott Jr. To make Seminole fans feel even more comfortable with the offensive linemen rotation, eight of the seventeen scholarship offensive linemen have starting experience at the collegiate level.

This offensive line position group seems to be poised to be one of the better units in the entire country. The future certainly looks bright in Tallahassee!