FSU Football: The Biggest Issue at Each Defensive 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.

Defensively, Florida State has a ton of talent, led by senior defensive end DeMarcus Walker and sophomore safety Derwin James, but there are some glaring weak spots. Here’s a look at the most daunting concern at each defensive group and on special teams:

Defensive Line
Biggest Concern: Depth.
FSU’s projected front four of defensive ends DeMarcus Walker and Josh Sweat and defensive tackles Derrick Nnadi and Demarcus Christmas has the chance to be one of the best in the ACC and perhaps even the country. Outside of the starters however, FSU is largely inexperienced up front. With Chris Casher and Rick Leonard each moving to offense and Lorenzo Featherston’s career likely over, it’s hard to find bodies who have played meaningful snaps. Though he’s listed as a linebacker, Jacob Pugh has seen the field as a pass-rusher, but he’s the exception in this case. The Seminoles have some guys who have been around like Keith Bryant, Arthur Williams and Fred Jones, but whether they can adequately spell FSU’s starters is a real question. The same is true with incoming freshmen like Brian Burns, Janarius Robinson, Shavar Manuel and JUCO transfer Walvenski Aime.

Linebackers
Biggest Concern: Experience.
The linebacking corps is seen as Florida State’s weakest position across the board. Matthew Thomas and Ro’Derrick Hoskins have been around the program, but Thomas hasn’t been able to stay on the field and Hoskins saw his role decreased as time went on last season. The Seminoles have talented young bodies behind those two in Sh’Mar Kilby-Lane, Josh Brown, Emmett Rice and Keion Joyner, but whether or not they’re ready to make an impact is unknown. The same is true of Delvin Purifoy, a redshirt sophomore plagued by injury.

Secondary
Biggest Concern: Youth.
Florida State’s secondary may be the strength of the team in 2016. The Seminoles have a nice mix of young talent and experience. Sophomore Derwin James is expected to have an All-American season at safety while seniors Nate Andrews and Marquez White are fairly proven at their positions. If there is one concern, it’s that Seminoles have a lot of young guys and the defensive backfield is a place where communication is vital. James, Tarvarus McFadden, Marcus Lewis, Levonta Taylor, Carlos Becker, Calvin Brewton and A.J. Westbrook are all players who could see the field and all are true sophomores or younger. FSU is also set to face three potential first round draft picks at quarterback in Ole Miss’ Chad Kelly, Miami’s Brad Kaaya and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson.

Special Teams
Biggest Concern: Punt Returns.
It’s true the Seminoles are replacing arguably the greatest kicker in college football history in Roberto Aguayo and the ACC’s leading punter in Cason Beatty, but Ricky Aguayo and Logan Tyler seem more than capable of adequately filling those voids. The weakness on special teams for FSU last season was returning punts. The Seminoles averaged less than four yards per return — good for 115th in the country. Through the early parts of 2015, FSU returners had a tough time even cleanly catching punts. Freshman Levonta Taylor is expected to give Jesus Wilson some relief in that area.