FSU FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE LINE
Florida State's offensive line was a vital part of how the Seminoles played during the 2025 season. Assistant coach Herb Hand has single-handedly turned the program into a destination spot when it comes to the offensive trenches.
Florida State had one of the worst offensive lines in all of college football last season. However, it was important to note that the Seminoles were bound to be light-years better in 2025.
The addition of offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, offensive line coach Herb Hand, and the addition of four new transfers in the trenches certainly helped their chances.
LUCAS SIMMONS AND JONATHAN DANIELS
Florida State loaded up on the offensive line in the offseason when it came to recruits and transfers. However, as much experience as the Seminoles possessed last year, it didn't matter if the transfers had been there since the early 19th century.
The fan base knew how the offensive line would play out in the offseason as Gunnar Hansen, Richie Leonard, Luke Petitbon, Adrian Medley, and Micah Pettus would be the starters, then Jacob Rizy would be the primary backup who could play tackle, guard, and center.
It is important that Coach Hand wants to have eight effective players in the rotation that he can trust to get the job done. However, finding the other two contributors can be tricky.
I know that Florida State won easily against East Texas A&M by a score of 77-3, so the results have to be taken with a grain of salt. However, offensive tackles Lucas Simmons and Jonathan Daniels were nice to see in action at such a priority position on offense.
Simmons was a former high four-star prospect (should have finished as a five-star), and Daniels was a mid-tier four-star prospect. They liked the potential of both being capable players out of high school, but the position coach who recruited them to the Seminoles is no longer in Tallahassee.
However, the coaching staff gave Simmons and Daniels a chance to wow with their performances. It is important that the Seminoles find out what they have with offensive tackle because if they want to remain a sustainable championship contender, the trenches have to be top-notch.