FSU Football Spring Linebacker Preview: 'Noles Have Tough Task Of Replacing Two Multi-Year Starters
Spring practice is just days away, and after a disappointing end to a historic season, the Seminoles are hard at work doing what they need to do to add to the success the team had in 2023. One of the major reasons for Florida State’s run last season was Adam Fuller’s defense and linebackers Kalen DeLoach and Tatum Bethune were two of the heartbeats of the unit.
Coach Randy Shannon and his position group were consistently key reasons that the Seminoles were able to time and time again make major defensive plays. Despite some devastating departures, the talent is there for the linebacker room to have similar success in 2024.
Departures:
Tatum Bethune (NFL) and Kalen DeLoach (NFL)
After a productive senior season for the starting duo, both players declared for the NFL draft and received invitations to the 2024 NFL Combine. Their departures and impact on the field leave a question mark as to who their replacements will be.
Bethune totaled 71 tackles and one interception, while DeLoach had 68 tackles, seven sacks, and one interception. With the duo soaking up the bulk of snaps, it is evident that not only will their on-field dominance be missed, but also their leadership and experience as well.
Returners:
Redshirt senior DJ Lundy, redshirt sophomore Omar Graham Jr., sophomore Blake Nichelson, sophomore Justin Cryer, and redshirt freshman DeMarco Ward
The Seminoles return 115 tackles (48.3%), eight tackles for loss (40%), two sacks (22.2%), one interception (33%), and five pass deflections (50%) from their linebackers that played in 2023.
New Additions:
Alabama transfer Shawn Murphy, three-star Jayden Parrish, and three-star Timir Hickman-Collins
Murphy, the No. 5 linebacker in the transfer portal, saw time in 13 games for the Alabama Crimson Tide last season. He finished with
Parrish was a three-star recruit in the 2024 class. He totaled 68 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, and an interception to help Atlantic High School reach the state playoffs.
Hickman-Collins was a three-star recruit in the 2024 class. He participated in the Shrine Bowl NC-SC, which features the top prospects from North Carolina and South Carolina, following his senior season.
Projected Depth Chart:
Middle Linebacker:
- Shawn Murphy, RS So.
- Omar Graham Jr., RS So./Blake Nichelson, So.
- Jayden Parrish, Fr.
Linebacker:
- DJ Lundy, RS Sr.
- Justin Cryer, So.
- DeMarco Ward, RS Fr./Timir Hickman-Collins, Fr.
Spring Outlook:
With Lundy returning to lead the way after opting to stay for his senior season despite entering the transfer portal, it will fall on the shoulders of the rest of the position group to fill the void of Bethune and DeLoach’s departures. Although Graham Jr. is the only other returning Seminole with a substantial amount of reps at linebacker, the position group has a bright future with Nichelson and Cryer both seeing substantial reps on special teams as freshmen, additionally earning a combined 28 total tackles at linebacker. Ward saw action at the position in just one game during his true freshman season and looks to make a name for himself this season to avoid falling on the depth chart.
As for the three newcomers this spring, they have vastly different expectations from one another. For Murphy, the goal is to start. Transferring from Alabama and getting playing time in nearly every game in the 2023 season, whether it be on special teams or linebacker, gave Murphy a taste of what he could do, now it is time for him to be an immediate playmaker. As for Parrish and Hickman-Collins, the plan is to develop their mental and physical skill sets during their first taste of competition at the college level. The desire to win remains the same, and even though some gaps need to be filled, there is no question that the potential for success is there for the linebackers.
Previous Spring Position Previews:
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