Florida State’s offensive line was an abject disaster in 2024. In 2025, Herb Hand was brought to Tallahassee to fix it, and he did so by plucking an entire new starting five out of the transfer portal, but that was only a temporary band-aid.
Once again, the Seminoles are entering the season with question marks in the trenches, and in his media availability on Wednesday, 10 days before the season opener, Hand didn’t provide much clarity on the combination, though it is becoming clear that Bowling Green transfer Nate Pabst will be a part of it.
Asked which offensive lineman has been most reliable during camp, Hand quipped: “That’s like asking whose your favorite kid.” Yet, he proceeded to answer, ultimately naming Pabst. “Nate’s just a solid lunchpale dude that comes to work every day. He’s a vet. You can tell that he’s played a lot of football.”
Hand’s offensive line is FSU’s biggest preseason question mark
His statement was hitched to the caveat that there’s still work to do, but all signs are pointing to Pabst in the starting five. Still, even that does little to clarify the uncertain situation up front.
After all five starters from last year’s line graduated, Hand had to overhaul the group again. This year’s rebuild line will likely feature only four transfers and only three or four players in their final year of eligibility, rather than all five.
It’s hard to call that stable, but it’s a step in that direction. The task now is for Hand and head coach Mike Norvell to decide their starting five before taking the field in Week 0, when New Mexico State comes to Doak Campbell Stadium.
Xavier Chaplin is locked in at left tackle. That’s the only certainty. Beyond that, Andre Otto is the likely left guard, with Bradyn Welch-Joiner ahead of Chavez Thompson for the center job. Other than Pabst, the right side is a complete unknown.
Will Nate Pabst be FSU’s starting right guard or right tackle?
Though he mentioned Jonathan Daniels, Thompson, and Jayden Todd as players improving during camp, the real competition appears to be between Paul Bowling and Chimdia Nwaiwu, though the two don’t play the same position. If Bowling starts, Pabst would slide out to right tackle; if Nwaiwu prevails, Pabst can play right guard.
Throughout his 38 career starts at Bowling Green, Pabst has played 183 snaps at left tackle, 651 at left guard, 680 at right guard, and 493 at right tackle.
At 6-foot-7, length shouldn’t be a concern on the perimeter, even as he makes the jump to the ACC level from the MAC, so he has legitimate four-position versatility. Injuries could test it, but with everyone healthy heading into the year, Hand and Norvell have to decide which combination is best, rather than which position is best for Pabst.
Throughout camp, Norvell has often said that it's about finding the best five up front, and Hand thinks, "We're in a good spot in terms of determining that," but the fact that they still haven't is a bit of a cause for concern.
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