Warchant Top 40 breaks inside the top 20, and FSU LB Tatum Bethune leads the way

It’s time to look ahead to the 2023 Florida State football season with Warchant’s annual list of the Top 40 players on the Seminoles’ roster — the players we expect to make the biggest impact for FSU this fall. (Note: This is not necessarily the 40 most talented players, but the players we believe will have the opportunity and capability to make the biggest impact this season.)

The list was compiled through voting by Warchant’s Gene Williams, Ira Schoffel, Corey Clark, Jeff Cameron, Aslan Hajivandi and Tom Lang.

The Top 40 will be revealed in segments, continuing today with players No. 21 through No. 25.

Earlier Installments: Players No. 36-40 | Players No. 31-35 | Players No. 26-30 | Players 21-25 |

No. 20 — Senior OL Bless Harris

Harris didn’t generate the biggest headlines at his position before — or even during — 2023 spring practice. Not only did Florida State land three experienced offensive linemen in the transfer portal, but in the week before the Garnet & Gold Game, it was announced that guard D’Mitri Emmanuel was granted a seventh year of eligibility.

What Harris lacked in media hype, he more than made up for with his performance on the field. He made a strong push to claim the starting right tackle spot with a solid spring and reminded everyone in attendance that he was the starter in the 2022 opener for a reason. Harris was lost for the rest of that season due to an arm injury, but he is back now. And while the competition won’t be easy — he’ll likely have to compete with Jeremiah Byers, Julian Armella and others for the starting right tackle position — the former Lamar transfer has a chance to regain control of the spot after his injury. He certainly looked more than capable during the spring.

Individual rankings — Gene (27), Ira (13), Corey (23), Jeff (8), Aslan (34), Tom (12).

No. 19 — Junior CB Fentrell Cypress

He was considered one of the top players in the transfer portal regardless of position when he signed with Florida State. And with good reason. Cypress led the country in 2022 with 1.6 pass breakups per game. He was a first-team All-ACC selection by Pro Football Focus and a second-team selection by the conference media and coaches. When he went into the portal, he was rated the No. 2 overall transfer prospect by On3.

Cypress gives the Seminoles a veteran cornerback who has played at a high level throughout his career. Along with Renardo Green on the other side, FSU could have one of the best 1-2 cornerback duos in the conference in 2023. Especially if Cypress plays up to the level he showed in Charlottesville, Va..

The Virginia transfer struggled a bit during the spring and wasn’t as impressive as fellow corners like Green and even Jarrian Jones, but he’s also a redshirt junior who has played a ton of college football and played well. So, on a new team with a new scheme and new coaches, it’s certainly feasible that he was just using the spring to get his footing with the Seminoles.

If he plays to the form he showed at Virginia, the one that made him one of the most coveted players on the open market, then he will be a big-time boost for the Seminoles’ defense in 2023.

Individual rankings — Gene (15), Ira (15), Corey (17), Jeff (18), Aslan (28), Tom (21).

No. 18 — Sophomore DL Joshua Farmer

He flirted with the transfer portal for a few days in April before announcing he was returning to Tallahassee. That might not seem like a huge deal, for a player who only had 15 tackles last year as a redshirt freshman, but it was a genuinely huge reversal for the Florida State defense. Not only does Farmer give the Seminoles valuable depth on the interior, but he might be ready to take a jump from decent to dominant.

That’s certainly how he looked in the spring. With some of the FSU veterans limited or being held out, Farmer was the star of the defensive tackle group for the Seminoles. There were days where he simply looked unblockable. And that was going up against an FSU offensive line with serious talent and experience.

If Farmer can indeed take that next step, to go along with Fabien Lovett and Braden Fiske and presumably Darrell Jackson as well as Dennis Briggs and others, the Seminoles could make an argument as having one of the best defensive tackle rotations in the country.

Individual rankings — Gene (20), Ira (23), Corey (22), Jeff (12), Aslan (20), Tom (10).

No. 17 — Senior DL Braden Fiske

Could be one of the biggest wildcards on the entire team.

Fiske was a dominant defensive tackle at Western Michigan before sustaining a late-season injury — one that he said likely kept him from declaring for the NFL Draft. In 2022, he racked up 58 tackles, 12 for loss and six sacks for the Broncos and was named to the All-MAC second team for his efforts. He finished his career at Western Michigan with 27.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks.

He was rated the best defensive lineman in the portal by On3. Now, he’s a Seminole. And while he wasn’t able to practice a ton during the spring, he did show off some elite athleticism by racing head coach Mike Norvell every day to start practice. And he can really, really move for someone who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 305 pounds.

If he can produce at FSU anywhere near the level he did at Western Michigan, he will be a force for the Seminoles.

Individual rankings — Gene (14), Ira (28), Corey (7), Jeff (25), Aslan (7), Tom (20).

No. 15 (TIE) — Senior LB Tatum Bethune

He wasn’t completely healthy for most of 2022, but the veteran linebacker still managed to finish with 84 tackles, including 9 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. It was a productive debut season in garnet and gold for Bethune, and he figures to be better — and healthier — in 2023.

It can’t be overstated how important it is for the FSU defense to have a veteran presence like him in the middle of the field. He has played a ton of football in his college career — with 48 games and 28 starts to his credit so far — and has totaled 269 career tackles.

Bethune is not going to wow anyone with his athleticism, but he’s a run-stopping linebacker who brings loads of experience to a defense that is already loaded with experience. He also can set an invaluable example for the younger linebackers behind him and fellow starter Kalen Deloach.

Individual rankings — Gene (10), Ira (14), Corey (18), Jeff (23), Aslan (18), Tom (16).

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.