Previewing FSU Football's 2023 Spring Showcase: Six Potential Breakout Performers
It was December when we last saw the Florida State Seminoles as they walked off of the field in Camping World Stadium, having completed a successful 2022 campaign that saw the program’s 25th 10-win season, a top-15 finish in the polls, and a Cheez-It Bowl victory. In the months that followed, media and fans alike began to whisper about what the ‘Noles could accomplish when the 2023 season rolled around. Florida State themselves added fuel to that fire with each off-season move that Mike Norvell and his coaching staff made. The ‘Noles made waves in the transfer portal, attracting some of the nation’s top talent. They landed home-run hires across the support staff, secured the commitments of some highly-touted recruits, witnessed the return of high-profile veterans, and with each passing day, those whispers grew.
READ MORE: Florida State's Offensive Assistants Discuss Team Improvements Over Spring Camp
It’s now April. Those whispers are now national headlines; the fire now a raging inferno. Amidst the speculation of playoff potential and the adornment of favorable preseason polls, the Seminoles have been chugging away at spring practice, focused on indoctrinating newcomers into the system and refining returners with different wrinkles in the playbook. Florida State stands on the precipice of its 2023 Garnet & Gold Spring Showcase, and the anticipation is at an all-time high. The college football landscape, the FSU faithful, and the national media; are all eager to get their first look at this year’s talent-filled team. All eyes are on star returners, such as Jordan Travis, Jared Verse, and Trey Benson, in hopes that they remain impact players for the ‘Noles and on the high-profile newcomers, like Braden Fiske, Darrell Jackson, and Jaheim Bell, in hopes that their talent can take the team to that penultimate college football game. However, while all eyes are fixated on the starters and stars of the 2023 roster, the Spring Showcase often gives other members of the roster an opportunity to shine.
Let’s take a look at some of the players that could have a breakout performance in Saturday’s Spring Showcase.
Hykeem Williams, True Freshman Wide Receiver
Hykeem Williams’ inclusion on this list is perhaps the biggest no-brainer. The air and anticipation around Williams are as high as they can be for a true freshman. He was ranked within the top 20 of all recruits and within the top-5 at his position across all major recruiting outlets. He played seven games in his senior season and caught 18 passes for 374 yards and five touchdowns. After a long and hard-fought recruiting battle, the All-American, 2021-2022 Broward County Athlete of the Year is officially a Seminole.
Throughout his first few practices with the ‘Noles, Williams finds himself as advertised. When looking at his size and skill, you wouldn't mistake him for a true freshman who could be heading to prom instead of sweating on the practice fields. As the chemistry builds with the quarterbacks and as he gets deeper into the playbook, the building blocks for Williams will set a solid foundation for a great receiver.
The excitement shared by the fanbase over this five-star recruit matches that of fellow five-star ‘Noles Cam Akers, James Winston, Derwin James, and Dalvin Cook, but with that hype comes pressure to perform. The honeymoon phase is over; simply securing Williams’ commitment is nearing its end. You’ve landed the young stud; he’s here and on your team; now, whether it's done consciously or not, everyone’s question becomes: How good can this kid really be?
The Spring Showcase will be everyone’s first chance to see the answer to that question for themselves, and it could very well be a chance for Williams to become an early breakout star.
AJ Duffy, Redshirt Freshman Quarterback
Let’s clear the air right off the bat: Jordan Travis is undoubtedly the starting quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles. He had a breakout season in 2022 and is now near the top of the list for multiple pre-season awards and honors. But depth at the quarterback position is equally as important as Travis’ elevated play. The Spring Showcase will most likely feature more reps from the supporting cast of quarterbacks comprised of Tate Rodemaker, A.J. Duffy, and Brock Glenn.
A.J. Duffy joined the Seminoles prior to the 2022 season. The 4-star quarterback out of IMG Academy added depth to a room that consisted only of Rodemaker and Travis following the departure of Chubba Purdy, and the consensus on him was clear: He wasn’t going to be competing for the starting job out of the gate, but he possessed the toolset to grow into the role and, perhaps, take over the keys to the offense once Travis departed. Throughout last season, Duffy was relegated to the third spot on the depth chart behind Rodemaker. He saw little action, save for some late-game appearances against Duquesne, Louisiana (against whom he threw his first collegiate touchdown), and Boston College. However, Norvell maintained that the young quarterback was adjusting to the college ranks and making progress all the same.
With one full season under his belt, Duffy entered 2023 Spring camp poised to compete for the backup role. In just the second and third practice, the redshirt freshman quarterback was already commanding the media's attention and garnering praise from Norvell: "You see the confidence and the work he has put in. He's done a great job with his body. He's moving great.”
Duffy has had his fair share of up-and-down swings. Practice reports from their first two scrimmages show he is getting the hang of things under year two in the offense. If he can continue to build chemistry with the receivers, and get his arm strength under control and work on some of his tendencies, he will be in solid contention for a more significant role. This Spring Showcase will allow him to show a bigger sample size of what he can do.
Come Saturday, the young QB could receive a significant workload during the Spring Showcase. If his consistency throughout spring camp is any indication, we could bear witness to a breakout performance from Duffy as he attempts to solidify himself as No. 2 on the depth chart.
Winston Wright Jr, Redshirt Senior Wide Receiver
Like Hykeem Williams, Winston Wright Jr. was the source of much excitement for Florida State fans, but his hype dates back to last year’s off-season. Wright Jr. joined the Seminoles after he played receiver for three years at West Virginia. As a Mountaineer, he caught 129 passes for 1338 yards and seven touchdowns on offense while returning 50 kickoffs for 1,236 yards and two touchdowns in 33 games, with 16 starts and quickly proved to be one of the nation’s most electric returners. Suffice it to say, Wright Jr. was one of the more high-profile transfers and stood to make an instant impact when the ‘Noles landed him just a year ago.
Unfortunately, prior to the start of the 2022 season, the receiver suffered a leg injury as a passenger in a car accident and was forced to sit out for the majority of the year. Wright Jr. did appear in fall practices towards the end of the season, albeit in a limited capacity, but he was unable to suit up for the ‘Noles during a game. Fast forward to 2023, and Wright Jr. is expected to make a full return for his redshirt senior season, and he’s wasted no time showcasing why he was such a proven threat while with the Mountaineers.
Florida State’s wide receiver room has no shortage of talent, and the long-awaited arrival of Winston Wright Jr. is definitely something fans are looking forward to. The receiver’s performance throughout the entirety of spring is a promising sign that he’s ready to play a large role in this offense, and Saturday’s showcase could give viewers their first glimpse at the explosive veteran if he does indeed get the green light to participate.
Rodney Hill, Redshirt Freshman Running Back
A debate could be made that the running back room at Florida State is one of the deepest and most talented of all the position groups for the Seminoles. After setting multiple career-highs in 2022, Trey Benson is the clear-cut number one amongst the backs, but the ‘Noles relied on multiple running backs throughout the season to accompany the variety of sets the offense utilized, and the departure of Treshaun Ward leaves a significant role up for grabs. Luckily, one young back has come on strong during camp.
His performance in camp so far has not only earned him some considerable momentum to break into the upper echelon of the depth chart but a new nickname as well: “Tornado.” That’s right, redshirt freshman Rodney Hill has turned heads as of late. Hill only appeared in 4 games for the Seminoles in 2022. Granted, he made the most of his limited minutes, carrying the ball 27 times for 144 yards and one touchdown. Despite the lack of playing time, he continued with the program into 2023 and that decision has already yielded some benefits.
Now in his second season with Florida State, Hill has hit his stride throughout camp. "He's gotten a lot of reps and we've seen his confidence going up because he is comfortable with the offense,” said offensive coordinator Alex Atkins, describing the back as “confident” and “comfortable.” The expectation heading into the Spring Showcase is that the second-year running back inherits the role vacated by Ward. Hill will get the opportunity to cement that ascension into the "three-headed" rushing attack during the Spring Showcase, which makes him a prime candidate for a breakout performance.
Joshua Farmer, Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Tackle
Joshua Farmer has long been a name floated around the fanbase and beat writers alike for his consistent strides in development and his promising potential. The third-year defensive tackle out of Port St. Joe, Florida, appeared in all 13 games during the '22 season, recording 15 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and one quarterback hurry. His season was filled with career-high performances and multiple award honors, but his role was slightly diminished due to the sheer talent on the roster across the defensive line.
Last year, Farmer fought for reps against veterans Robert Cooper and Jarrett Jackson for playing time. Both of those gentlemen have since moved on from the program, leaving Farmer with an opportunity to ascend into an elevated role. However, he’ll now have to fight for playing time against new, high-profile transfers, Braden Fiske (Western Michigan) and Darrell Jackson Jr. (Miami).
Time will tell if Farmer is indeed ready to fill the hole left by Robert Cooper, but his performance in Spring camp, thus far, indicates that he could turn that promise of potential into a realization of his talents with a solid performance at Saturday’s Spring Showcase.
Quindarrius Jones, True Freshman Defensive Back
True freshman Quindarrius Jones makes the list in a sort of "Dark Horse" candidacy. While the young cornerback has shown flashes of greatness throughout camp, the 3-star prospect out of Mississippi is still getting up to speed with the college game, which has led to a few miscues (notably, a long touchdown grab by Winston Wright Jr.). Despite his inexperience, Jones has consistently made waves during the latter part of Ssring camp in the form of pass deflections and interceptions when matched up against the likes of Winston Wright Jr. and Johnny Wilson. He could very well fly onto everyone's radar during the Spring Showcase.
READ MORE: Previewing FSU Football's 2023 Spring Showcase: Five Impact Newcomers To Watch
There's a buzz of excitement surrounding Florida State's 2023 roster, and it's full of athletes with a high ceiling of potential. Luckily for us, we won't have to wait long to get our first look at this year's 'Noles squad.
Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the spring
