FSU Spring Game: Match-Up Analysis By Position

We’re just two days away from watching Florida State take the football field for its annual spring game. Although the rosters have not been completely filled out, the big names have been assigned to teams.

So which team has the advantage? The Garnet or the Gold? We take a look at which team is strongest at each position.

Quarterbacks

Garnet Notables: Bailey Hockman
Gold Notables: James Blackman
Edge: Gold
Having started 12 games last season, one would have to like the experience that sophomore James Blackman brings to the table. Bailey Hockman has a ton of upside and is a dark horse to win the starting job, but he’s a bit beat up.

Running Backs

Garnet Notables: Cam Akers, Khalan Laborn
Gold Notables: Jacques Patrick, Amir Rasul
Edge: Garnet
The Gold team has the edge in experience, but in terms of raw talent, the Garnet wins this match-up. Last season, Cam Akers broke Dalvin Cook’s FSU freshman rushing record and fans seem to be chomping at the bit to see Khalan Laborn get an opportunity in new head coach Willie Taggart’s offense. All around, this may be the position to watch on Saturday.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Garnet Notables: D.J. Matthews, Tamorrion Terry, Ontaria Wilson
Gold Notables: Keith Gavin, Deonte Sheffield, Tre’ McKitty
Edge: Garnet
Second-year players D.J. Matthews and Tamorrion Terry really have broken out this spring and will be looking to showcase their skills. This position battle is a toss-up with Deonte Sheffield for the Gold and Ontaria Wilson of the Garnet each adjusting to new positions.

Offensive Line

Garnet Notables: Mike Arnold, Landon Dickerson, Derrick Kelly, Brady Scott
Gold Notables: Christian Armstrong, Josh Ball, Abdul Bello, Corey Martinez
Edge: Garnet
The Garnet team has a pair of experienced starters while the Gold team has the disadvantage when it comes to meaningful experience.

Defensive Line

Garnet Notables: Demarcus Christmas, Tre Lawson, Ja’len Parks, Janarius Robinson, Cedric Wood
Gold Notables: Wally Aime, Brian Burns, Cory Durden, Fred Jones
Edge: Gold
The Gold team possesses Florida State’s leading sack man in Brian Burns and a pair of experienced defensive tackles in Wally Aime and Fred Jones. The Garnet team has the team’s best defensive tackle in Demarcus Christmas, but is largely unproven elsewhere.

Linebackers

Garnet Notables: DeCalon Brooks, Dontavious Jackson
Gold Notables: Leonard Warner
Edge: Garnet
This position has to be filled in, but right now, two capable bodies are greater than one.

Defensive Backs

Garnet Notables: Kyle Meyers, Hamsah Nasirildeen, Stanford Samuels III, Levonta Taylor
Gold Notables: Cyrus Fagan, A.J. Westbrook, Jaiden Woodbey
Edge: Garnet
A.J. Westbrook has some experience and safeties Cyrus Fagan and Jaiden Woodbey have very bright futures, but Levonta Taylor has All-American potential. He, along with Stanford Samuels and Kyle Meyers could be FSU’s top three cornerbacks. Hamsah Nasirildeen is also a strong candidate to start at safety.

Special Teams

Garnet Notables: N/A
Gold Notables: N/A
Edge: N/A
As always, the special teams duties will probably not be team-specific. Walk-ons will see time, but kicker Ricky Aguayo, punter Logan Tyler and long snapper Grant Glennon will probably get reps for both teams.

Prediction

There are a lot of players who are still to be added by the time that Saturday rolls around, so the rosters at this point are fairly incomplete. For the most part however, they have been filled. Top-to-bottom, the Garnet appears to have the better team. Garnet 24, Gold 20.

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