FSU Football opens 2024 preseason camp looking to answer three big questions (live updates)
Will senior quarterback DJ Uiagalelei take his game to a new level under Florida State head coach Mike Norvell and quarterbacks coach Tony Tokarz?
Have the Seminoles found some receivers to step up and replace the firepower lost when Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson departed for the NFL?
Can senior DJ Lundy and a slew of candidates — including Auburn transfer Cam Riley and talented sophomores Blake Nichelson, Justin Cryer and Omar Graham Jr. — shore up the linebacker position following the departure of multi-year starters Kalen DeLoach and Tatum Bethune?
Those are likely the three biggest questions facing Norvell and the Seminoles as the Florida State football team opens preseason camp this morning.
*LIVE UPDATES from FSU’s first preseason practice
One year after winning the ACC Championship and posting a 13-0 record before the College Football Playoff snub, Florida State is expected to be a top contender to make the new 12-team college playoff in 2024. But even though Norvell has loaded the FSU roster with home-grown talent and high-profile transfers, the Seminoles have more questions to answer this season than they did a year ago.
Uiagalelei is one of the most recognizable names in college football, having started for two years at Clemson and then spending last season at Oregon State, but he has yet to live up to his lofty rankings coming out of high school as a five-star prospect. He has more physical tools to work with as a passer than Jordan Travis did, but Travis was more consistent and did an incredible job of protecting the football.
How much improvement Uiagalelei has made over the past seven months under Norvell and Tokarz will go a long way in determining how well Florida State plays on offense.
The good news for Uiagalelei is the Seminoles should be able to lean on a potent and powerful ground game as he settles in. They picked up a pair of SEC transfers at guard — former UF starter Richie Leonard and Alabama veteran TJ Ferguson — and they have a deep and talented running back room.
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That should give Uiagalelei and the receivers some time to find their rhythm. Alabama transfer Malik Benson had a very good spring and should team with senior Ja’Khi Douglas to lead the WR room, and Norvell said this week at ACC Kickoff that he’s expecting big things from a healthier Kentron Poitier, sophomore Hykeem Williams and others.
On defense, the Seminoles should be very stout on the defensive line, and there are high expectations for a secondary led by cornerbacks Azareye’h Thomas and Fentrell Cypress, and safety Shyheim Brown. Which means all eyes will be on the linebacker position, as Lundy looks to claim the lead role and a number of candidates battle to join him.
If that linebacker group comes through, there should be little dropoff from the 2023 Florida State defense, which helped carry the Seminoles through the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte.
That journey starts today, and Warchant’s staff is on hand for complete coverage, including stories, interviews, video highlights, photo galleries and daily observations.
Click here to see the early updates from today’s first practice, and stay connected throughout the day for continuing coverage.
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