FSU football 2025 early projected depth chart: Offense starters, backups

Posted by author January 18, 2025 Football

Spread the love

The 2025 college football season season is months away for Florida State.

Even so, after Mike Norvell made coaching changes, actively participated in the transfer portal, and added new signees to the 2025 freshman class following last season’s 2-10 mark, fans can discuss what the team could look like on paper.

Starting with the offense.

From adding Boston College transfer Thomas Castellanos at quarterback to upgrading the offensive line, Norvell and staff spared no expense in getting the offense back on track with offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn calling the plays.

Here is a too-early projected depth chart for this coming season:

Quarterbacks

1st: Thomas Castellanos

2nd: Brock Glenn

3rd: Trever Jackson

Analysis: The offense will look new, with Castellanos as the starting quarterback. He fits Malzahn’s style of offense.

Castellanos is also familiar with the scheme, as he played for Malzahn in his freshman year at UCF. This is a chance for the athletic quarterback to return to his dual-threat ways.

Before Bill O’Brien took over the head coaching job last season, Castellanos threw for 2,248 yards and 15 touchdowns. On the ground, he rushed for 1,113 yards and 13 rushing scores.

His numbers went down last season to 1,366 passing yards and 194 rushing yards, and he was eventually benched.

Luke Kromenhoek left for Mississippi State, but Brock Glenn remains on the roster. While he has starting experience, he will likely be Castellanos’s backup.

Trever Jackson and incoming freshman QB Kevin Sperry could battle it out for QB3.

Running backs

1st: Roydell Williams, Kam Davis

2nd: Samuel Singlton Jr., Ousmane Kromah, Jaylin Lucas

3rd: Micahi Danzy, Caziah Holmes,

Analysis: The running game battled injuries last season. It averaged 2.9 yards a carry, and was close to last in every rushing category.

FSU can only improve going forward.

The running back room will be young and looking for new leaders. Roydell Williams, who only played four games after a season-ending injury, will be a veteran in the group.

Kam Davis played as a true freshman but lacked production. He also missed time due to injuries.

It also allows Tallahassee natives Micahi Danzy and Jaylin Lucas to use their breakaway speed to be involved offensively.

Incoming freshman Ousmane Kromah enters with a lot of hype after becoming an early signee and could find his way into the rotation. Caziah Holmes and Samuel Singleton Jr. are also in the mix.

Wide receivers

1st: Hykeem Williams, Duce Robinson, Squirrel White

2nd: Lawayne McCoy, Elijah Moore, BJ Gibson

3rd: Jordan Scott, BJ Gibson, Jayvan Boggs

Analysis: FSU’s wide receiver unit looks the part. They are taller and more experienced.

Tennessee transfer Squirrel White is the shortest member of the group, but his speed is unmatched. He is also the most productive of the newly acquired receivers from the transfer portal.

White played all three years with the Volunteers. He broke out as a sophomore with 803 receiving yards and two TDs. He recorded 131 catches for 1,665 yards and six TDs in his career.

Duce Robinson was also a slam-dunk pick-up for the Seminoles, not only because he is a legacy but also because he is a 6-foot-5 receiver with a good catch radius. The USC transfer had 39 catches for 747 yards and seven touchdowns in two years with the Trojans.

Hykeem Williams, LaWayne McCoy, and Elijah Moore are the three notable returning players on the receiving corps who will compete with the transfer portal guys.

It will come down to who will be the most confident blocker from the perimeter, which was an issue last season. JUCO player Jordan Scott and incoming freshman Jayvan Boggs are also names to watch heading into the offseason.

Tight ends

1st: Landen Thomas, Randy Pittman

2nd: Markeston Douglas, Jerrale Powers

3rd: Chase Loftin

Analysis: FSU added three tight ends that can be contributors on offense. Randy Pittman is the lone player in the group who recently played in Malzahn’s system.

In his sophomore year, Pittman recorded 32 catches for 416 yards and two touchdowns. He was also highly involved in UCF’s running game, one of the country’s top rushing teams. Landen Thomas and Amaree Williams saw action as true freshmen during the 2024 season.

Williams will move to the defensive line during the spring, leaving Thomas as the Seminoles’ returning starter. Markeston Douglas returned to FSU after his one-year stint at Arizona State.

He played his first two seasons at FSU, where he caught two touchdowns. Chase Loftin is a four-star signee who could look to find his way in the rotation if he catches on to the game’s speed.

Offensive Line

LT 1st: Gunnar Hansen

2nd: Lucas Simmons

LG 1st: Richie Leonard IV

2nd: Andre Otto

OC 1st: Luke Petitibon

2nd: Jacob Rizy

RG 1st: Adrian Medley

2nd: Jaylen Early

RT 1st: Micah Pettus

2nd: Jonathan Daniels

Analysis: Norvell’s top priority was fixing the offensive line, which was the biggest disappointment after struggling to find a stable starting five.

The Seminoles added four experienced linemen from the transfer portal. Also, hiring Malzahn’s right-hand man, Herb Hand, to coach the offensive line is expected to boost the group.

Once Hand was officially hired, he continued to search for the best and experienced candidates.

Gunnar Hansen, Micah Pettus, Luke Petitibon, and Adrian Medley have combined 105 starts out of 132 games played in their careers.

The biggest prize was Pettus out of Ole Miss. The 6-foot-7, 350-pound right tackle received All-American honors and can move for his size.

It is still questionable how the interior line will look, and it won’t be a surprise if there could be some shuffling with returning players like Andre Otto, Jaylen Early and Richie Leonard IV, who is coming back from a season-ending injury.

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.