FSU Football : Camp Progress & Roster Preview : QB & Offensive Skill Positions
Let's take a look at each offensive position group and who has stood out thus far vs who I expect to start the season for the Noles.
It truly is remarkable how far Mike Norvell has brought the Seminoles program in four years. I would have said four short years except we all know those first eighteen months were anything but quick and seamless. By the end of year two Norvell found his quarterback and an identity in the locker-room. After losing four straight to start the year the Noles have gone 28-7 including a 19 game win streak.
Coming off an amazing 13-1 year and having ten players selected in the NFL draft there is a collective fear amongst parts of the fanbase that we are back to square one. Hopefully I can assuage those fears by going through the roster position by position breaking down the talent and everything I have heard speaking to people who have been present for camp, watching tape and listening to the coaches.
Mike Norvell addressed the press Saturday following the second Scrimmage if the year and informed us after a day off they will begin preparing for Georgia Tech Monday, August 12th, the same day The Renegade Report welcomes Zach Smith from Menace To Sports in as a special guest on the weekly Renegade Roast! Make sure to tune in Monday at 9:15 ET. We will switch up to previewing GT and specific scheme as well right here next week as well.
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Quarterback
DJU is the presumptive starter though in the visible parts of practice he has bee getting the second reps behind second year quarterback Brock Glenn. Mike Norvell has called DJ's performance remarkable. Over his career he has throw 2.3 touchdowns for every interception but if we look at his last two years as a full time starter he has posted back to back 3 to 1 TD ratio.
Uiagalelei has the arm strength and placement on his deep balls to make defenses pay and the go route just might be his very best route if we are looking at success rate. Oregon States lack of size outside, running game and use of backs out of the backfield bodes well for the personally FSU has at the skill positions. I have never seen a qb whip a screen or swing lass from the right hash to the opposite sideline so beautifully.
Prediction: DJU if healthy for the entire season will account for 3000+ Yards an 30 Total Tds on Offense.
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I contend DJU is the best fit Mike has ever had in his offense and we will surely see the closest thing to his 2019 Memphis offense that we have seen yet as is a popular opinion amongst fans and insiders alike. Quarterback.as we found out in 2023 is about more than just the starter and there is no question the Noles QB depth is the best it has been since before Jacob Coker transferred to Alabama.
Brock Glenn was injured for the majority of his redshirt year only to be forced into duty in the ACC championship game on virtually no prep. The perception around his QB acumen was no doubt damaged by this but fear not the narrative is changing very quickly. Tony Tokarz snatched up Brock Glenn right off of Ohio States board in the class of 2023 which you will come to find out was absolutely loaded with gems.
With Brock’s knowledge of the offense in year two and his comfortability with the line & skill players FSU has one of the better back up QBs in the nation. This brings us to our two freshman QBs Luke Kromenhoek and Trever Jackson. We have seen quite of bit of these drilling in the media available portions of practice and heard all kinds of great things when it comes to their work ethic and ability.
I've talked to some very smart people who have seen practice first hand who have seen flashes of the future and wouldn't put it past him competing for that backup spot before the year is out. That is great and I don't doubt it for a second but realistically if either of these two guys end up taking meaningful snaps you are probably out of the playoff hunt or stuck in a similar position to last year.
While I don't have a ton on Trever Jackson's progress thus far i want to point out him signing here as preferred walkon makes a whole lot more sense now that we know roster are expanding to 105 scholarships. The little I've heard or seen he looks the part and has all.the talent to.become a great college quarterback just needs to continue his development.
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Running Back
Roydell Williams - The quintessential running back for Mike Norvell has arrived in Roydell. He has the ability to read defenses and set up blocks we loved from Treshaun Ward while having the Speed to take it to the house like Trey Benson and can fit through gaps half the size of a phone booth like it is nothing. It may sound like hyperbole but I am expect great things from Roydell this year as he will be behind the best FSU offensive line in at least a decade. Biggest surprise out of camp thus far for me has to be his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
Caziah Holmes - I had extremely high hopes for Caziah Holmes coming into this year and he seemed to be extremely motivated headed into spring camp. He didn't have the rise I was expecting but except found adversity. Nonetheless he has persevered and earned the respect of the coaches and his peers. He gives relentless effort and has a will not be denied attitude. Gonna be fun to see him have some success this year; he has earned it.
Kam Davis* - What should I say about the freshman phenom? The best RB FSU has signed since Cam Akers look for him to burst onto the scene in 2024. He is the epitome of what a five star running Back should look like and has been balling since he stepped foot on campus.
NFL folks are retweeting his clips saying he looks like a second or third year player. I don't know how many carries he will get this year but he has had an amazing camp thus far and the best is certainly yet to come.
Tailback
Lawrance Toafili - The ACC Title game MVP returns for his senior season in Moke Norvells offense and figures to have a big year. He has has ha a steady CLIMB in his development to get to this point now where he is basically the definition of the Tailback position in Mike Norvell’s offense.
I expect to see him on the field more this year than his entire career due in part to more usage of two back sets or 21+ personell. If that confuses you just know the first number is the number of backs the second numer is the amount of TEs. 21 personell is two and one while 23 personell is two backs and three tightends.
Jaylin Lucas - Another instant impact transfer and brother of Jakhi Douglas Jaylin is an absolute dynamo at around 5’ 8” and some change. He leads the nation in kickoff returns for touchdowns and can catch the ball very well out of the backfield as well as line up in the slot. He can really do it all and is an absolute weapon for Mike Norvell to use. Think Darren Sproles NFL playing style but at the college level.
Sam Singleton - What a camp the redshirt freshman is having. With last week and the second scrimmage being largely about finding out who is ready to step up to join the first team guys and compete among the younger group none stood out more than Sam. He had Adam Fuller enraged as he broke five tackles on his way to the end zone in a Tuesday practice. He may have been the MVP of the Jacksonville trip and is maybe the most underrated/ forgotten player on this roster.
Micahi Danzy - I am super excited about the young one cut runner with legitimate track speed. He has some amazing Tailbacks to learn from and is poised to take.over right where Lawrance Toafili left off with maybe a little higher ceiling. I dint expect too much as a freshman but it will be a.lpt of fun to watch him develop.
Wide Receiver
Malik Benson - He has been the favorite for WR1 since the day he signed with the Noles. He reinforced that idea by having a great spring camp followed up by a good performance in the Garnet and Gold showcase propr to leaving early with a minor injury. He is a bigger bodied version of what we had in Ontario Wilson in 2022. He can make all the big catches, back shoulder throws winning vs. Man & Zone against the best secondary in the league if not nation. His biggest issue last year was who was at QB as he was open on over 90% of the routes he went out on or something CRAZY like that.
Hykeem Williams - I would like to say Keem has grabbed ahold of the WR2 job (or the #1 Z WR how ever you wanna phrase it) and is out here looking like Julio Jones. I can't say that but I can say he has certainly made some flames and showed the ability to be that guy. The CLIMB is certainly taking hold as he gets used to that NFL body and works with Coach Dugans to master the little things and play with the consistency needed. You also must stay on the field consistently as availability will.always be the best ability.
Jalen Brown - Back to the Ontario Wilson comparison except with a ceiling that is wayyyyyy up there. I'm probably more excited to see him compete than anyone else save a particular freshman we will get to later. He was a fellow Top-100 recruit with Hykeem in the 2023 Recruiting Class and a target FSU wanted bad coming out. It would surprise.me.ine but to see him win the job before thr year is over.
Kentron Portier - What can I say about Kentron I haven't already said in last years preseason or the one before that. I'm a bug time fan and he has everything you need to be the perfect answer to the issue at the position. That said I just can't trust him to be there week in and week out and Coach sort of alluded to that in his most recent press availability.
Darion Williamson - I'm gonna be honest I have not heard his name hardly at all during fall camp he could be banged up for all I know. I feel for the young man as he is a very hard worker and consistently puts himself.in a position to make plays. He has all the traits size, speed, intelligence etc. he just has to shownhe can consistently finish the play to get serious burn in this offense.
Elijah Moore - The man of the hour the 6’4” 200+ pound WR has been the biggest story out of Fall camp to this point and I don't believe it has been very close. He has done it all, back shoulder catches in double coverage, tough grabs over the middle, and has made a reputation for himself as an unstoppable force in thr red-zone. Keon Coleman is a damn good comparison but I'm pretty sure Moore is faster.
It can be very tricky for a true freshman at WR and so far it appears the Noles may have the best on ether have signed out of High School since Rashad Greene broke out as a true freshman for 38 receptions, 596 yards and 7 touchdowns!
Lawayne Mccoy - #81 wasn't the only freshman WR in camp the first 13 practices as McCoy isn't far behind in the hype department. Speaking of Rashad Greene, Lawayne is very similar coming out at 6'1 180 lbs. It has been a pretty rough stretch at the position and while I'm not quite as bullish on McCoy as a true freshman as Elijah make no mistake this group is gonna be a ton of fun to watch
BJ Gibson has had a much more normal type of freshman camp andbut earned praise from Mike Norbe for bouncing back.and doing some.nice things in the second scrimmage. Of course Deuce Spann is still here and an amazing athlete in his own right but similar to alot of these guys he just hasn't gotten there with he consistencey.
Destyn Hill - A fan favorite to win the slot receiver job Destyn went down with a year ending injury in spring camp. Yet another contributing factor to the anxiety around WR this year was his loss as he was penciled in to compete and likely win that Slot WR spot. He is moving around great with no braces but we will be lucky to get him back around Conference Title time and at that point they likely will just hold him out until his RS Sophomore year.
Jakhi Douglas (Y) With Destyn’s injury the return of our guy Jakhi Douglas is a very important one. He has been the same guy thus far focused on taking that next step but had a bit of a rough time in Fall camp thus until the latest scrimmage when he earned praise from the coaching staff. Look for him to be a dependable target and to himself free in the opposing defenses all year.
Camdon Frier - Yet another impressive true freshman Camdon Frier certainly looks the part and has earned praise for his effort and play throughout camp it has just been hard to compare to what Elijah Moore and Lawayne McCoy have done. Camdon is not the typical white wr you saw at Clemson or playing for the New England Patriots on Sunday though make no mistake he can play all the WR positions and has a bright buture in Garnet and Gold.
Tight-Ends
Kyle Morlock - Your certified TE1 has really found his sea legs and has been a steadying presence this fall camp. He had a bad day or to with some concentration issues but picked it right back up and looks to be the best option at TE and exactly who we thought be could be when the Noles grabbed him last year.
Jackson West - One of the surprises of the spring camp he was dinged up a bit in the spring game but came back health with no lingering issues. To be honest I have heard very little out of camp on him. Really just about nothing. That said look for him to take a nice step this year have some nice catches here and there grab some snaps but I'd put all my money on one of the Freshman having a chance to be an impact player in 2024.
Brian Courtney - For a guy that moved to LB to help the team for a year just to return to TE I have been surprised at the positive feedback I have gotten in camp hearing from.coaxhes and folks out at practice. I will be glad with anything we get out of Courtney this year and hope he can have a shot to compete for a position in the future.
Amare Williams - Originally a five star DE in the 2025 recruiting class Amare reclassified and signed with FSU as a four star back in January. Being a year younger than most freshman he is gonna need some time to bulk up and build the strength necessary to compete at a high level in Coach Papuchis’ group BUT at TE?
He is ready to roll and has been the absolute talk of practice with only Elijah Moore challenging him for air time thus far in camp. Big time catches, physicality blocking and picking up the offense at breakneck speed he appears to just be a natural at the position. Depending how this year goes he may never make it over to the defensive side of the ball.
Landon Thomas - People have been a bit confused that our actual five star Tight-End has been so far overshadowed by a seventeen year old DE prospect. I would say that there is nothing to worry about. Availability is the best ability and he has had a few issues there this fall. He is supposes to be back in full swing this week as they begin game prep.