The Daily Nole

FSU Spring Game: Offensive Match-Up Analysis

FSU athletics

Before the Final Four tips off in Minneapolis on Saturday, Florida State will play its annual spring game between the Garnet and the Gold.

The game could serve as a first step in ridding fans of the bad taste of 5-7 that the 2018 season left in their mouths. It will also serve as the debut in a game setting for early enrollees, transfers and new offensive coaches in coordinator Kendal Briles, receivers coach Ron Dugans and offensive line coach Randy Clements.

Here’s a look at what both the Garnet and Gold will be bringing to the offensive table by position and which team has the advantage:

Quarterbacks
Garnet notables: Jordan Travis
Gold notables: James Blackman, Nolan McDonald
Analysis: With only two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, it’s no surprise that James Blackman and Jordan Travis are on different teams. Travis, the Louisville transfer, should have a lot of reps to show what he can do on Saturday. Nolan McDonald, a walk-on, is a former 3-star prospect and could push to be the guy behind Blackman. We’ll see how both perform in Briles’ offense.
Advantage: Gold

Running backs
Garnet notables: Cam Akers, Khalan Laborn
Gold notables: Anthony Grant, Deonte Sheffield
Analysis: The ground game wasn’t a strength last season, but it wasn’t for a lack of talent. The Garnet team will have the 1-2 punch that is expected to get the majority of the carries this season in Cam Akers and Khalan Laborn. Laborn is coming off a season-ending kneecap injury. For the Gold team, Anthony Grant, a sophomore, impressed coaches last season and saw time as a kick returner in 2018. Sheffield is a walk-on, but was a 3-star prospect in high school. Sheffield impressed as a receiver in last season’s spring game. Laborn was the MVP of last year’s spring game.
Advantage: Garnet

Receivers/tight ends
Garnet notables: D.J. Matthews, Keith Gavin, Ontaria Wilson, D’Marcus Adams, Camren McDonald (TE)
Gold notables: Tamorrion Terry, Warren Thompson, Keyshawn Helton, Tre’Shaun Harrison, Jordan Young, Tre’ McKitty (TE), Gabe Nabers (TE), Alex Marshall (TE)
Analysis: The Gold team certainly has the deeper corps of wide receivers and the size advantage with Tamorrion Terry, Warren Thompson and Alex Marshall. With James Blackman as the signal-caller, he’ll have no shortage of weapons in the passing game. The Garnet isn’t as deep, but D.J. Matthews and Keith Gavin are experienced. A thinner corps could give second-year players D’Marcus Adams and Camren McDonald a real opportunity to shine.
Advantage: Gold

Offensive line
Garnet notables: Dontae Lucas, Cole Minshew, Landon Dickerson, Christian Armstrong, Chaz Neal, Jauan Williams, Andrew Boselli
Gold notables: Baveon Johnson, Brady Scott, Mike Arnold, Jalen Goss, Jay Williams, Abdul Bello, Christian Meadows
Analysis: The offensive line was by far the weakest link for the Seminoles last season. The Garnet team is the more veteran squad with Landon Dickerson and Cole Minshew, but it mixes in some young faces like early enrollee Dontae Lucas, Christian Armstrong and Chaz Neal. The Gold team has a lot of players with potential like Baveon Johnson, Brady Scott, Christian Meadows and Jalen Goss.
Advantage: Garnet

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

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply