Grading the Seminoles: What are FSU’s strengths and weaknesses for the 2024 season?

The Florida State Seminoles put together a memorable season worthy of being regarded among the best in their storied history.

It culminated in bittersweet fashion, winning an ACC championship but losing starting quarterback Jordan Travis, being left out of the College Football Playoff and being blown out by Georgia in the Orange Bowl.

With the expanded playoff field at 12 now, FSU is aiming to repeat as conference champion and earn what would now be an automatic spot in the CFP to give them a shot at the national title.

But the only way that will happen is if several new starters step in and fill the voids left behind by talented players such as Travis.

The Miami Herald grades the Seminoles’ roster position-by-position heading into their season opener on Saturday against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Dublin, Ireland.

QUARTERBACKS | B+

Of all the departures FSU dealt with this offseason, Travis was the biggest. The 2023 ACC Player of the Year was the engine that drove the Seminoles offense for the past three seasons, becoming one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation. FSU addressed this vacancy in strong fashion by adding transfer D.J. Uiagaleilei from Oregon State.

Uiagaleilei has completed 59 percent of his career passes for 8,132 yards and 57 touchdowns with 23 interceptions over 48 career games, and is quite familiar with the ACC from his three seasons at Clemson prior to his time at Oregon State. If Uiagaleilei, who is on the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Maxwell, Davey O’Brien and Unitas Golden Arm award watch lists, can quickly take command of FSU’s offense and step up in high-pressure situations as Travis did, the Seminoles will have a chance to make another run at the national title.

Redshirt freshman Brock Glenn, who started the ACC championship game last season vs. Louisville, and freshmen Luke Kromenhoek and Trever Jackson will be the backups.

RUNNING BACKS | B

This is another unit that took a big hit after losing Trey Benson’s 905 yards and 14 touchdowns. But the Seminoles added depth through the portal with senior Alabama transfer Roydell Williams, who ran for 1,165 yards and 11 touchdowns on 234 carries while catching 21 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns during his time in Tuscaloosa. Veteran Lawrance Toafili enters his fifth season in the program and steps into a starting role with Williams. They’ll be backed up primarily by senior Caziah Holmes with Kam Davis, Jaylin Lucas and Micahi Danzy also on the depth chart. The question remains if any of them emerge as the kind of game changer Benson was last season.

WIDE RECEIVERS | B-

Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson are in the NFL and took a lot of catches and explosiveness from FSU’s offense with them. Coleman was a special talent, able to make tough catches and stretch the field on big-chunk plays while Wilson, at 6-foot-6 gave the quarterback a large target. Like the aforementioned positions, FSU hit the portal to fortify this unit by adding another Alabama transfer in senior Malik Benson, who caught 13 passes for 162 yards in 14 games for the Crimson Tide.

Senior Kentron Poitier is entering his fifth season in the program and is expected to be a regular starter for the first time while fifth-year senior Ja’Khi Douglas starts in the slot. Hykeem Williams, Deuce Spann and Darion Williamson all saw action as reserves last season and freshman Jalen Brown could emerge as a weapon in the passing game as well. There’s talent in the room, but big shoes to fill.

TIGHT ENDS | C

At most of the other positions on offense, FSU has depth, but it remains to be seen if it replaced the elite-level talent it had there last season. The Seminoles lost top tight end Jaheim Bell, but have been very impressed with redshirt senior Kyle Morlock (19 catches for 155 yards last year) as a potential offensive weapon. Morlock will likely be leaned on early in the passing game. Not much game experience beyond Morlock with Jackson West, Landen Thomas and Brian Courtney.

OFFENSIVE LINE | A

One of the most veteran groups on the team and the backbone of why FSU is still a contender to repeat last year’s success. Three starters - left tackle Darius Washington, center Maurice Smith and right tackle Jeremiah Byers - all redshirt seniors - are back. Senior Richie Leonard IV (Florida transfer) and redshirt junior TJ Ferguson (Alabama transfer) bring experience and are expected to step in at the guard spots. Robert Scott Jr. and Jaylen Early are backups at the tackle spots with Jacob Rizy at center and Keiondre Jones and Bryson Estes likely the top reserve guards.

DEFENSIVE LINE | A

This group lost edge rusher Jared Verse, a first-round pick of the L.A. Rams who had nine sacks last season. But redshirt junior Patrick Payton, who had seven sacks last season, should have a breakthrough season in terms of national recognition. Georgia transfer Marvin Jones Jr., the son of the FSU legend, will line up opposite Payton with veterans Joshua Farmer and Darrell Jackson Jr. lining up at tackles. Sione Lolohea and Byron Turner Jr. will back up Payton and Jones on the edges.

LINEBACKERS | B-

DJ Lundy is the leader of this group following a breakthrough season in which he finished third on the team in tackles (54) and had four pass breakups. Losing Tatum Bethune and Kalen DeLoach hurts, but the Seminoles have redshirt seniors Cam Riley, (Auburn transfer) and Davonte Brown (Miami transfer), adding experience to the group, which should benefit from lining up behind a veteran line.

DEFENSIVE BACKS | A

Shyheim Brown, Fentrell Cypress and first-year starter Earl Little Jr. (yet another Alabama transfer) should keep the secondary in similar top form it had last season when FSU’s pass defense ranked first in the nation in completion percentage defense. Redshirt freshman Edwin Joseph could be a breakthrough player at cornerback and both Omarion Cooper and Kevin Knowles II have experience.

SPECIAL TEAMS | A

The kicking and punting games have been among the most stable for the program over the past two seasons. Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald returns for his fifth season and ranks ninth in school history in points scored. Punter/holder Alex Mastromanno also returns for his fifth season. Fitzgerald, who hit all 58 extra point attempts and improved greatly on field goals, making 19 for 21 attempts, is on the Lou Groza Watch List. Mastromanno averaged 45.5 yards per punt, and is on the Ray Guy Watch List. Douglas and Spann will look to improve the return game, which averaged 25.4 yards per kickoff return and 11 yards per punt return last season.