Florida State Football 2012: Predicting the Pre-Spring 2-Deep Depth Chart

Florida State will kickoff perhaps its most anticipated spring practice in recent memory on March 19.  

While the Seminoles return a bevy of starters from last year's squad, there will be plenty of intriguing battles between players competing for the few jobs available and backups pushing for starting jobs.  

Jimbo Fisher will be closely monitoring the situation on the offensive line as well as identifying which underclassmen are ready to make a contribution this fall.  

With practices set to begin next week, fans eagerly anticipating the 2012 season will get their first chance to see the Seminoles in action during the annual spring game set for April 14. 

Here is a look at predicting the pre-spring two-deep depth chart for the Seminoles.

Quarterback

Senior EJ Manuel enters his final season in Tallahassee as the team's unquestioned leader.  

The team floundered after his injury in the Oklahoma game, but responded upon his return, culminating in an 18-14 comeback victory over Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl—despite unknowingly playing with a fractured fibula suffered earlier in the game.   

Sophomore Clint Trickett, who played well in Manuel's absence, will once again be the backup signal-caller. 

Two-Deep 

EJ Manuel, (senior; 6'5", 245 lbs)

Clint Trickett (sophomore; 6'2", 175 lbs)

Running Back & Fullback

After Chris Thompson was lost for the season due to injury, Devonta Freeman took over as the Seminoles' primary option at running back.  

Freeman led the 'Noles in rushing with 579 yards and eight touchdowns in his true freshman season.  

Thompson returns for his senior season, and his performance in the spring should offer Fisher and his staff a glimpse as to how effective he can be coming off an injury. 

Lonnie Pryor is comfortably entrenched in the fullback role and will reprise that role in his final college season. 

Two-Deep 

Running Back

Devonta Freeman (sophomore; 5'8", 200 lbs)

Chris Thompson (senior; 5'8", 190 lbs)

Fullback 

Lonnie Pryor (senior; 6'0", 228 lbs)

Chad Abram (junior; 6'0", 227 lbs)

Wide Receiver and Tight End

The Seminoles return perhaps the deepest group of pass-catchers in the ACC, headlined by Champs Sports Bowl MVP Rashad Greene—the team’s leading receiver after a fantastic true freshman season.  

Senior Rodney Smith is back for his final season and will likely remain a starter, but junior Kenny Shaw and sophomore Christian Green lead a deep and talented group of playmakers who will push for playing time this fall.  

Nick O'Leary had a solid freshman season and could become a bigger part of the offense this season.  

Two-Deep 

X

Rodney Smith (senior; 6'6", 216 lbs)

Christian Green (sophomore; 6'2", 206 lbs)

Z 

Rashad Greene (sophomore; 6'0", 175 lbs)

Kenny Shaw (junior; 5'11", 165 lbs)

Tight End 

Nick O'Leary (sophomore; 6'4", 235 lbs)

Will Tye (sophomore; 6'2", 243 lbs)

Offensive Line

All eyes will be focused on the action in the trenches during spring practice.  

After starting four true freshmen against the Irish in the bowl victory, Fisher and offensive line coach Rick Trickett brought in a pair of JUCO transfers and switched talented defensive tackle Cameron Erving to left tackle.  

Expect to see some movement, with several players taking turns and moving around in order to find the best five players capable of forming a wall up front.  

Two-Deep 

Left Tackle 

Daniel Glauser (junior; 6'6", 315 lbs)

Garrett Faircloth (junior; 6'7", 295 lbs)

Left Guard 

Josue Matias (sophomore; 6'5", 320 lbs)

Jacob Fahrenkrug (senior; 6'4", 315 lbs)

Center 

Bryan Stork (junior; 6'4", 300 lbs)

Austin Barron (sophomore; 6'2", 295 lbs)

Right Guard 

Tre Jackson (sophomore; 6'4", 310 lbs)

Henry Orelus (sophomore; 6'3", 295 lbs)

Right Tackle 

Bobby Hart (sophomore; 6'5", 303 lbs)

Sterling Lovelady (sophomore; 6'2", 285 lbs)

Defensive Line

Florida State got some encouraging news with the return of defensive end Brandon Jenkins who spurned the NFL in favor of playing his final college season. 

The Seminoles are an experienced and deep group who returns their top four defensive ends and defensive tackles, so there may not be a lot of movement considering the experience and depth coming back.

Two-Deep 

Left Defensive End 

Bjoern Werner (junior; 6'4", 273 lbs)

Cornellius Carradine (senior; 6'5", 267 lbs)

Right Defensive End

Brandon Jenkins (senior; 6'3", 267 lbs)

Giorgio Newberry (freshman; 6'6", 270 lbs)

Defensive Tackle

Timmy Jernigan (sophomore; 6'2", 300 lbs)

Anthony McCloud (senior; 6'2", 302 lbs)

Nose Tackle 

Everette Dawkins (senior; 6'2", 295 lbs)

Demonte McAllister (junior; 6'2", 285 lbs)

Linebackers

The Seminoles will have to replace Nigel Bradham, their leading tackler in each of the past three seasons. 

Jeff Luc, a former highly touted recruit, will slide into Bradham's weak-side spot and could use a strong spring to nail down a starting nod, but watch out for converted safety Nick Moody to get a strong look. 

However, juniors Christian Jones and Telvin Smith are both talented players who could use a dominant spring to catapult them toward the fall. 

Two-Deep

Strong-Side Linebacker

Christian Jones (junior; 6'4", 240 lbs)

Nigel Terrell (sophomore; 6'1", 220 lbs)

Middle Linebacker 

Vince Williams (senior; 6'1", 245 lbs)

Telvin Smith (junior; 6'3", 210 lbs)

Weak-Side Linebacker 

Jeff Luc (junior; 6'0", 246 lbs)

Nick Moody (senior; 6'2", 226 lbs)

Secondary

FSU got a boost when starting corners Greg Reid and Xavier Rhodes both announced their intention to return to school.  

At free safety, Lamarcus Joyner emerged as a playmaker who helped the 'Noles limit big plays.  

Replacements must be found for valuable nickel corner Mike Harris and strong safety Terrance Parks, but a host of talented players are ready for their chance to compete for playing time. 

Two-Deep 

Boundary Corner 

Xavier Rhodes (junior; 6'2", 215 lbs)

Keelin Smith (freshman; 6'3", 185 lbs)

Field Corner 

Greg Reid (senior; 5'8", 185 lbs)

Nick Waisome (sophomore; 5'10", 165 lbs)

Strong Safety 

Terrence Brooks (junior; 5'11", 193 lbs)

Karlos Williams (sophomore; 6'2", 227 lbs)

Free Safety 

Lamarcus Joyner (junior; 5'8", 200 lbs)

Tyler Hunter (sophomore; 6'0", 190 lbs)

Special Teams

Perhaps the biggest loss for FSU will be finding a new punter to take over for Shawn Powell.  

Elsewhere, FSU looks to be in great shape with returning starters at all the return units and at kicker with Dustin Hopkins. 

True freshman Cason Beatty will have the unenviable task of replacing Powell, but he did enroll early and will participate in spring practice.  

Two-Deep 

Kicker 

Dustin Hopkins (senior; 6'2", 183 lbs)

Roberto Aguayo (freshman; 6'0", 183 lbs)

Punter 

Cason Beatty (freshman; 6'3", 215 lbs)

Derek Williams (sophomore; 6'1", 192 lbs)

Kick Return 

Greg Reid (senior; 5'8", 185 lbs)

Lamarcus Joyner (junior; 5'8", 200 lbs)

Punt Return 

Greg Reid (senior; 5'8", 185 lbs)

Rashad Greene (sophomore; 6'0", 175 lbs)

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