3 FSU players who should be replaced on the depth chart for 2024

Last season, Jeremiah Byers was a mainstay at right tackle and he retired for his final year of eligibility, presumably to start at the same position. However, Mike Norvell may want to introduce some competition on the right side of the offensive line after last season’s performance. 

Though he only gave up one sack, Byers allowed a team-high 27 pressures. D.J. Uiagalelei is big and athletic, so he’ll be able to evade rushers that get by his right tackle, but 27 pressures was 10 more than any other member of the offensive line allowed. 

The bigger issue actually appeared when looking at the numbers in the run game. On off-tackle runs to the right side, FSU only averaged 3.4 yards per carry, compared to 6.0 to the left side and 4.5 yards which was the season average for the offense. 

Trey Benson specifically struggled running behind Byers, only gaining 46 yards on his 14 carries in that direction. The staggering part is that he gained 47 yards after contact on those runs, so there weren’t many holes to run through. 

If Norvell can’t identify an upgrade, then Byers will be serviceable for another season, but right tackles is a definite position of need that wasn’t addressed in the transfer portal.