A lack of depth and unexpected early attrition have plagued Florida State’s corps of linebackers for quite some time. 2017 however, has the potential to be very different.
The Seminoles return three experienced seniors to go along with a promising group of young players that hope to crack the lineup. FSU wasn’t overly consistent at the linebacker position last year, but the bar has been set high for guys like Matthew Thomas and Jacob Pugh.
FSU did lose Sh’Mar Kilby-Lane, who missed all of last season with academic issues, but it returns virtually every significant piece of its linebacker contingent. This might finally be the season where Florida State has a group that is among the ACC’s best.
1. The Name to Know: Matthew Thomas
After injuries and self-inflicted mistakes kept Matthew Thomas off the field for his first three years on campus, things finally seem to be coming together. Thomas led the Seminoles last season with 77 total tackles while adding 11 tackles for loss. Despite his large 6-3, 230-pound frame, Thomas also has decent ability in pass coverage.
The former 5-star from Miami, Thomas came on strong in his hometown to conclude the 2016 campaign. Thomas racked up 16 tackles, including 3.5 for loss in FSU’s 33-32 victory over Michigan in the Orange Bowl. With a full, healthy season under his belt, there is reason to believe that 2017 is finally the year that Thomas lives up to his lofty expectations.
2. Burning Question: Which Youngster Steps Up at the Position?
Seniors like Matthew Thomas, Ro’Derrick Hoskins and Jacob Pugh will see the field in 2017. The question becomes which young players will provide FSU the depth it needs.
With Kilby-Lane gone, the obvious candidates look to be junior college transfer Adonis Thomas and three sophomores — Emmett Rice, Dontavious Jackson and Josh Brown. Jackson is seen as the player with the most upside while Brown may be best suited to play FSU’s “BUCK” position. That’s an end/hybrid role currently occupied by Pugh and Brian Burns, a listed defensive end.
3. Put Your Future Stock In: Leonard Warner
A freshman from Georgia, Leonard Warner has a real chance to be the next great Florida State linebacker. Warner is instinctive with a nose for the football. While Warner is likely going to play as an inside linebacker for the Seminoles, he can really get after the quarterback and has the skill set to play the “BUCK” position if needed. Warner has great downhill speed for a linebacker and could wind up being a solid defender in pass coverage.
4. Other Names to Know: Ro’Derrick Hoskins, Jacob Pugh, Dontavious Jackson, Emmett Rice, Adonis Thomas, Josh Brown
Most of theses names have already been mentioned. Hoskins and Pugh are likely to be in the starting lineup while others hope to provide meaningful depth. With Thomas, Pugh and Hoskins all gone after this season, guys like Dontavious Jackson, Emmett Rice, Adonis Thomas and Josh Brown will all be competing for not only reps for this season, but for starting spots next season as well.
Of the four, Thomas is the most experienced, but at FSU. Thomas played at Alabama for one season before going the junior college route and excelling there last season. Jackson, Rice and Brown combined for just 34 total tackles as freshmen in 2016.
5. Food For Thought
For 2017, a total of 207 tackles and 8.5 sacks return from FSU linebackers. Over the last several years, the depth at linebacker has been a major weakness for FSU, but for this season, it has 10 scholarship players at the position. That’s the most that FSU has had on the roster to open the season since 2010.
Under head coach Jimbo Fisher, Florida State has yet to have a single linebacker be named to the All-ACC first-team. The last player to do that for FSU was Geno Hayes back in 2007.
The Seminoles also haven’t had a linebacker selected in the NFL Draft since Telvin Smith went in the fifth round in 2014. Since then, the only other position that has not had a player selected has been punter. Hoskins is the only current FSU player to record at least 50 total tackles in each of the last two seasons.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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