FSU Football: Spring Position Preview Series | Linebacker
We take a look at the linebackers on scholarship headed into Spring Camp on March the 6th. Kalen Deloach, Tatum Bethune and DJ Lundy lead the way for the much improved position group.
Twitter | @CurtMWeiler
High Expectations
On offense an inability to bring in offensive lineman and develop them was the single most distressing issue over the past decade. The same can be said of the linebacker unit on defense. Unfortunately this particular situation has still not been resolved completely.
While you will soon find the Noles are in a very good place for 2023 at the position, it is due to having several fifth and sixth year players that have reached their penultimate year at the same time. Following this season if Randy Shannon can’t land some elite linebacker talent out of high school this will likely be his final season in Tallahassee.
We are nearing the end of our spring preview series and as such having already covered the defensive line and defensive backs with you all, the expectations for the 2023 season should be clear. Anything less than excellence will be unacceptable. The mix of experience, talent, and leadership in this room should be able to do just that and provide us with the best linebacker play we will have seen in close to a decade if only for one year before the exodus.
Scholarship Linebackers
4 Kalen Deloach | 6’ 1” & 211 lbs. | Redshirt Senior
There are very few things that can be taken as poitives from the Willie Taggart Era at Florida State. Fortunately for the linebacker corps Kalen Deloach is that shining example. He came to FSU as a four star recruit in the 2019 recruiting class.
Fans and coaches alike had high hopes for the six foot two hundred pound young man with a family full of great people who also happen to be division one athletes. He arrived representing potential at the position we had not seen in quite some time. While Kalen really settled into his role as a starting LB and leader on the defense last year, 2023 should be the year he really puts it all together.
10 DJ Lundy | 6’1” & 232 lbs | Redshirt Junior
DJ's path has been quite interesting since arriving to Tallahassee. He has an unbelievable bodybuilder’s physique and the photos that surfaced of him early on in his career did not seem real. While this physique was awe inspiring and he an absolute load when he got rolling downhill, his frame simply wasn’t suited for Fuller’s defense.
Like so many teams today battling spread offenses our base defense is a version of 4-2-5. At his size early on in his career he was simply way to stiff, unable to open his hips, turn and run at a high enough level. It wasn’t for not trying and he was ultimately forced into action and made to adapt on the fly.
Lundy took heed to the advice he received from his coaching and training staff and truly went to work in the offseason following a disappointing 5-7 campaign in 2021. We saw a totally different player that was improved in every area that had totally transformed his body into an able linebacker in 2022. I’m expecting a another decent jump as we head into 2023.
15 Tatum Bethune | 6’ 1” & 230 lbs | Redshirt Senior
Tatum came to the Noles via the transfer portal in the 2022 class and was one of the more impactful players brought in on defense that year. It’s my estimation that he pretty much saved Randy Shannon’s job for one more year by deciding to return for 2023 after such a productive year.
That said while we saw vastly improved linebacker play across the board in 2022 there is still a massive chasm to cross in order to reach the elite level we so desire in Tallahassee. This jump can not be made simply through improved linebacker play though. Similar to the secondary I expect to see the increased effectiveness of the defensive line to allow Bethune to truly play instinctive downhill football at an All ACC level.
Twitter | @BSonnone
28 Brendan Gant | 6’ 2” & 200 lbs | Redshirt Senior
It should certainly be clear by now why Seminole fans have so much faith in this linebacker unit despite their disdain for it’s current leader. Gant is yet another upper classmen inside of this group ready to cash in on five plus years of blood sweat and tears.
At one point I liked him to eventually win a starting safety spot after showing promise early on in his career at the position, but he has found his home at LB. The game has changed drastically over the last decade or so. Back when the Noles made their run pundits said Telvin Smith was too small, should have played safety. Now he would be the prototype. Gant has added some needed muscle to his frame since making the switch and I expect a major jump from him headed into 2023.
31 Demarco Ward | 6’1” & 212 lbs | Freshman
I will reserve judgement until I see Ward in action in Garnet and Gold but he is the prototype linebacker for todays game. Here is what the Official Seminoles Roster has to say
Per FSU….
Three-star linebacker ranked 69th nationally at his position by ESPN and 75th among country’s linebackers by On3…tabbed as Georgia’s No. 90 overall prospect by On3 and 100th in state by ESPN…rated as nation’s No. 96 linebacker prospect and No. 110 overall in Georgia on 247Sports Composite…three-year contributor at Duluth, piling up 238 tackles, including 21.0 for loss with 7.0 sacks, four fumble recoveries, one interception and five pass breakups in 29 games…recorded 74 tackles, 4.0 for loss with 2.0 sacks, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups his senior year…also rushed 23 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns…registered 78 tackles, 12.0 for loss with 3.0 sacks, one interception returned for a touchdown and two fumble recoveries during junior season to help Wildcats reach AAAAAAA state playoffs…recorded 79 tackles, 5.0 for loss with 2.0 sacks, one fumble recovery and three pass breakups in 10 games his sophomore year…registered seven tackles in one game as a freshman…also played basketball and competed in sprints and hurdles at Duluth.
32 Stephen Dix Jr. | 6’ 2” & 237lbs | Redshirt Junior
Very similar to Tatum Bethune, Stephen was forced into action way too early and was similarly chiseled like that of a Greek God. It just so happens this style of linebacker is just not compatible with the modern defenses run at FSU. Unfortunately Dix Jr. has not had the same amazing results in the weight room as DJ Lundy and thus not seen the field much at all after getting starters reps as a freshman.
36 Omar Graham Jr. | 6’1” 226 lbs | Redshirt Freshman
Similar to Demarco Ward I love Grahams build, athleticism and potential. Problem is potential is all that it is. We will be keeping a close eye on Graham throughout camp to see if it’s possible he can challenge some of the upperclassmen for playing tine in 2023. I think he could be a key piece of the defense come 2024.
Per FSU…
Three-star prospect ranked 32nd among all outside linebacker prospects in America and 65th overall prospect from Florida by Rivals…ESPN tabbed him 44th nationally among outside linebackers and 87th among Class of 2022 from Florida…rated as 61st-best linebacker prospect in America and No. 84 overall prospect in Florida on 247 Composite…ranked 89th nationally at his position and 91st among all prospects from Florida by 247Sports…helped Stranahan reach regional semifinal round of 5A state playoffs his senior season…recorded 102 tackles, including 40.0 for loss with 23.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles while also rushing for 551 yards and 12 touchdowns…played three games during pandemic-shortened junior season and registered 38 tackles, including 11.0 for loss with 9.0 sacks and one fumble recovery.
Projected Two Deep
This one is very simple and not much of a projection but here are your top four .
1st String -
Kalen Deloach
Tatum Bethune
2nd String -
DJ Lundy
Brendan Gant