FSU Football: The 2023 roster is more talented that the 2022 roster

Defensive Roster Review

Defensive Line: To me, this may be the strength of the defense with studs like Jared Verse and Fabien Lovett coming back, the addition of Braden Fiske, Gilber Edmond, and Darrell Jackson from the portal, and the emergence of Patrick Payton. Then you add Patrick Payton, Byron Turner, Joshua Farmer, Daniel Lyons, Malcolm Ray, Dennis Briggs, and others. Those depth guys can all be starters which is a great luxury to have.

Linebacker: This unit had great playmakers but may lack depth. FSU usually only plays two linebackers and five defensive backs, so having nine guys is not necessary. You have Tatum Bethune, who was great last season while playing injured, Kalen DeLoach, who has really improved, and DJ Lundy, who looks great this spring. After that, you have young guys like redshirt freshman Omar Graham, true freshman Blake Nicholson and Demarco Ward.

Defensive Back: This group has lost a few guys, but I think we will be ok here. Most of the projected starters for this season have a lot of game-time experience. Bringing CB Fentrell Cypress in from Virginia is a great addition and should give them a possible lockdown corner. Other guys like Jarrian Jones, Akeem Dent, Shyeim Brown, Renardo Green, and Greedy Vance all played a bunch last season. JUCO S Ashlynd Barker, I believe, may get playing time in his first season. AZ Thomas will be improved and could carve out some playing time as well.

Special Teams: Destyn Hill could be a major force on special teams that we maybe haven’t seen since Peter Warrick.