FSU Football: The Biggest Issue at Each Offensive Position

Less than three months stand between Florida State and the start of the 2016 season. The Seminoles are projected by many to be part of the 4-team playoff and among FSU faithful, there’s optimism that their Seminoles will be the last team standing.

Offensively, Florida State returns 21 of 22 players on its 2-deep depth chart, including one of the nation’s most exciting players in running back Dalvin Cook. Still, FSU does has some concerns on that side of the ball. Here is the biggest for each offensive position group:

Quarterback
Biggest Concern: Finding a starter.
After a dismal showing in the Peach Bowl and spring game, redshirt sophomore J.J. Consentino is likely out of the mix for the starting job, leaving head coach Jimbo Fisher with the decision between redshirt senior Sean Maguire, redshirt freshman Deondre Francois and true freshman Malik Henry. Maguire is 4-2 in his career as a starter at FSU with big wins over Clemson and Florida. Maguire however, has not performed well away from Doak Campbell Stadium and is coming off a 4-interception effort in a 38-24 Peach Bowl loss to Houston. Francois looked good in the spring game with the exception of two turnovers and if given the nod, would begin his career against very good competition. Henry also performed well during the spring, but is still a bit light at 185 pounds. FSU hasn’t started a true freshman under center since 1985.

Running Back
Biggest Concern: Relief for Cook.
Florida State’s Dalvin Cook enjoyed the best season ever for an FSU running back in 2015, rushing for 1,691 yards and 19 touchdowns. Cook’s outstanding season however, came at a price. Despite missing the entire Syracuse contest and virtually all of the Wake Forest game, Cook tallied the second most carries in Seminole history and on a bad hamstring for most of the year. Cook had offseason shoulder surgery and if he is to carry FSU to Tampa, he’ll need some help. With Mario Pender dismissed, that duty will fall on sophomore Jacques Patrick and redshirt junior Ryan Green. Patrick is a highly-touted between-the-tackles runner while Green returned to the backfield after spending last offseason in the secondary before season-ending surgery. For Cook to survive another season, at least one of those two will need to legitimize himself as a consistent No. 2 back behind Cook.

Wide Receiver
Biggest Concern: Emergence of young, big receivers.
When it comes to depth at wide receiver, Florida State is loaded. The Seminoles have a plethora of young, physical receivers, but they have yet to emerge. Travis Rudolph was FSU’s leading receiver for 2015 with Kermit Whitfield and Jesus Wilson ranking second and third respectively. Whitfield and Wilson are both burners, but both are undersized at 5-8 and 5-9. The Seminoles lack a big, physical presence that can be utilized over the middle or in red zone situations. Many believe juniors Ermon Lane and Ja’Vonn Harrison or sophomores George Campbell and Auden Tate can fill that void. We’re just waiting for that to happen.

Tight End
Biggest Concern: Utilizing Everyone
Like at the wide receiver position, the Seminoles are deep at tight end. Ryan Izzo did a great job replacing Nick O’Leary, the 2014 John Mackey Award winner, last season while Jeremy Kerr was dependable as a run-blocker. Mavin Saunders has the size and athleticism to be a real asset for FSU at the position and the Noles have two talented young bodies at tight end in redshirt freshman Jalen Wilkerson and incoming freshman Naseir Upshur. Upshur will likely receive a redshirt this year, but the Seminoles would be best served to find a way to adequately utilize all of their tight ends.

Offensive Line
Biggest Concern: Cohesiveness.
It came as no surprise that FSU struggled at times up front last season, having to replace four starters on the offensive line. The front five should be a strength in 2016, but the Seminoles will need to find a cohesive unit. Left tackle Roderick Johnson and right guard Wilson Bell were the only FSU offensive linemen to start all 13 games last season. Chad Mavety saw time at both guard and tackle, Derrick Kelly and Brock Ruble split time at right tackle and three different Seminoles started at center. Most feel that the offensive line will take the next step in 2016, but continuity will be key.