FSU Football: Pre-Spring Overview

Florida State will open spring practice on Monday as it looks to build on a solid finish to the 2016 campaign. The Seminoles closed the year with five straight wins, including an Orange Bowl victory to finish in the top 10 for a fourth time in five years.

FSU returns nine starters on defense, but will have to replace Consensus All-American and the school’s third all-time leader in sacks in DeMarcus Walker. Quarterback Deondre Francois, the ACC’s 2016 Rookie of the Year, returns, but FSU loses its top rusher, receiver and best offensive lineman. The most notable of the three is all-time leading rusher Dalvin Cook.

With the spring set to get underway, here is a postion-by-position look at the FSU roster for 2017:

Quarterbacks

Returning Scholarship Players: J.J. Cosentino (R-Jr.), Deondre Francois (R-So.)
Early Enrollees: Bailey Hockman
Incoming Freshmen: James Blackman
Overview: The starting quarterback job barring a miracle will again belong to Deondre Francois. Francois was the ACC’s Rookie of the Year last season, accounting for 3,350 yards passing and 25 total touchdowns. The question will be who backs him up. J.J. Cosentino is the veteran of the group, but has struggled in game action. Bailey Hockman, a freshman lefty from Georgia, and walk-on Jake Rizzo are both candidates to do that.

Running Backs

Returning Scholarship Players: Ryan Green (R-Sr.), Gabe Nabers (So.), Jacques Patrick (Jr.), Amir Rasul (So.), Johnathan Vickers (Sr.)
Early Enrollees: Cam Akers
Incoming Freshmen: Khalan Laborn, Zaquandre White
Overview: Replacing all-time leading rusher Dalvin Cook won’t be easy nor will it likely be a 1-man job. Jacques Patrick is the leading returning rusher, but early enrollee Cam Akers and sophomore Amir Rasul are both expected to push Patrick for carries. Both Akers and Khalan Laborn were 5-star high school prospects.

Wide Receivers

Returning Scholarship Players: George Campbell (R-So.), Keith Gavin (So.), Nyqwan Murray (Jr.), Da’Vante Phillips (Jr.), Auden Tate (Jr.)
Early Enrollees: None
Incoming Freshmen: D.J. Matthews, Tamorrion Terry
Overview: FSU returns just five scholarship receivers, but each of those five have potential. Nyqwan Murray and Auden Tate both emerged as viable options last season. Sophomores George Campbell and Keith Gavin are each big targets with a ton of upside.

Tight Ends

Returning Scholarship Players: Jeremy Kerr (R-Sr.), Ryan Izzo (R-Jr.), Mavin Saunders (R-Jr.), Naseir Upshur (So.)
Early Enrollees: Tre’ McKitty
Incoming Freshmen: Alexander Marshall
Overview: Ryan Izzo and Mavin Saunders have been a solid, but not stellar 1-2 punch for FSU at tight end. Their role this season could increase significantly with so few scholarship receivers returning. Jeremy Kerr and three youngsters will also fight for reps at the position.

Offensive Line

Returning Scholarship Players: Mike Arnold (R-Fr.), Josh Ball (R-Fr.), Abdul Bello (R-So.), Andre Boselli (R-Fr.), Landon Dickerson (So.), Alec Eberle (R-Jr.), Ethan Frith (Jr.), Baveon Johnson (R-Fr.), Derrick Kelly (R-Jr.), Rick Leonard (Sr.), Corey Martinez (R-Jr.), Cole Minshew (R-So.), David Robbins (R-So.), Brock Ruble (R-Jr.), Jauan Williams (R-Fr.)
Early Enrollees: None
Incoming Freshmen: Brady Scott
Overview: Coming off a knee injury, Landon Dickerson will likely man one starting spot for FSU, but it is not known whether he’ll return to guard or move to tackle. At center, incumbent Alec Eberle will miss the spring, which could open up the door for redshirt freshmen Baveon Johnson and Andrew Boselli to man that spot. If Eberle keeps his job, both players could also be candidates to fill in at guard along with favorite Cole Minshew and Derrick Kelly among others. Wilson Bell would have been a candidate to start at guard, but he isn’t expected to be with the team after this spring. Rick Leonard and Brock Ruble, who both started at right tackle last season, are candidates to start at tackle along with Jauan Williams, Abdul Bello and Kelly.

Defensive Line

Returning Scholarship Players: Wally Aime (Jr.), Keith Bryant (R-Sr.), Brian Burns (So.), Demarcus Christmas (R-Jr.), Fred Jones (R-Jr.), Derrick Nnadi (Sr.), Janarius Robinson (R-Fr.), Josh Sweat (Jr.), Darvin Taylor (R-So.), Adam Torres (R-Jr.), Jalen Wilkerson (R-So.), Arthur Williams (R-Jr.), Cedric Wood (R-Fr.)
Early Enrollees: Joshua Kaindoh
Incoming Freshmen: Cory Durden, Tre Lawson, Ja’len Parks, Marvin Wilson
Overview: Derrick Nnadi and Demarcus Christmas will man the middle for the FSU defensive line, but Fred Jones and true freshman Marvin Wilson should provide great depth at the position. The question will be who replaces DeMarcus Walker at defensive end. Josh Sweat could move over from his “BUCK” position to fill that void with leading returning sack man Brian Burns or linebacker Jacob Pugh filling in at the “BUCK” spot. Early enrollee Joshua Kaindoh and redshirt freshman Janarius Robinson are also options for an contingent that will play many combinations.

Linebackers

Returning Scholarship Players: Josh Brown (So.), Ro’Derrick Hoskins (R-Sr.), Dontavious Jackson (So.), Sh’Mar Kilby-Lane (R-So.), Jacob Pugh (Sr.), Delvin Purifoy (R.-Jr.), Emmett Rice (So.), Matthew Thomas (R-Sr.)
Early Enrollees: Adonis Thomas (JUCO)
Incoming Freshmen: DeCalon Brooks, Leonard Warner
Overview: For the first time in what seems like a long time, FSU has built a deep corps of linebackers. Matthew Thomas and Ro’Derrick Hoskins will likely start again, but Dontavious Jackson and junior college transfer Adonis Thomas should get a lot of time. Several others will compete for reps as well. Jacob Pugh will primarily play the “BUCK” position, which is a linebacker/end hybrid.

Defensive Backs

Returning Scholarship Players: Nate Andrews (R-Sr.), Carlos Becker (So.), Calvin Brewton (Jr.), Malique Jackson (Sr.), Derwin James (R-So.), Ermon Lane (Sr.), Marcus Lewis (Jr.), Trey Marshall (Sr.), Tarvarus McFadden (Jr.), Kyle Meyers (So.), Levonta Taylor (So.), A.J. Westbrook (Jr.)
Early Enrollees: Cyrus Fagan, Stanford Samuels III
Incoming Freshmen: Hamsah Nasirildeen, Ontaria Wilson
Overview: After missing all but the first two games last season, FSU will finally get do-everything and All-American candidate Derwin James back from a knee injury. With seniors Trey Marshall, Nate Andrews and Ermon Lane also at safety, FSU has a ton of talent and experience in the secondary. Cornerback Tarvarus McFadden will hold down one of the two cornerback spots after leading the nation in interceptions while Levonta Taylor, Kyle Meyers and Carlos Becker should all see plenty of the field at the other corner and “STAR” positions.

Special Teams

Returning Scholarship Players: Ricky Aguayo (So.), Stephen Gabbard (Sr.), Logan Tyler (So.)
Early Enrollees: None
Incoming Freshmen: None
Overview: Stephen Gabbard will be in his fourth year as FSU’s long snapper and Logan Tyler will again assume the punting duties. The only question is whether or not Tyler can oust incumbent Ricky Aguayo for the placekicking duties.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson