FSU football: Three things to look forward to for Noles' Orange Bowl matchup vs UGA

BLAKE NICHELSON IS THE FUTURE AT LINEBACKER?

Florida State will be losing both redshirt senior linebackers Kalen DeLoach and Tatum Bethune after this Orange Bowl matchup. They have both been phenomenal for the Seminoles' defensive unit this season.

The Seminoles will now have to turn the page at the position under the guidance of linebackers coach Randy Shannon. The depth behind them is unproven, considering that redshirt junior DJ Lundy elected to transfer to Colorado. As it stands now, none of the linebackers for the 2024 season will have any collegiate experience.

While I feel that Florida State will acquire one linebacker (maybe two) via the transfer portal, it could be a good time to see what the other players in the rotation are made of. One player that I am monitoring is former Class of 2023 four-star prospect Blake Nichelson, who has played sparingly this season.

After the Seminoles defeated the Southern Miss Golden Eagles by a score of 66-13 earlier this season, head football coach Mike Norvell had glowing remarks about Nichelson and his ability as a linebacker. He even mentioned that the Calfornia native will be playing quite a bit for the remainder of the season (which did not translate).

However, I believe that this is a golden opportunity for Nichelson as he looks to carve a role in the rotation for the 2024 season.