Florida State Football: Players to Watch in Seminoles' 2015 Spring Game

After winning 29 straight games, Florida State got embarrassed. 

The Seminoles battled perception issues all last season even though they remained undefeated. In the end, those questions were answered in a 59-20 loss to Oregon in the Rose Bowl. 

Still, Florida State was a team littered with future NFL players. The turnover the 2015 team faces is daunting. 

But this is why head coach Jimbo Fisher has been recruiting like a maniac in recent years. Who replaces quarterback Jameis Winston? Tight end Nick O'Leary? How about four-fifths of the starting offensive line? Who steps up in a new-look secondary?

These are just some of the questions Fisher will have to answer. The Noles' spring game on Saturday should, hopefully, provide a glimpse into what next season's team will look like—and what to expect from that team. In the following slides are key names to watch this weekend based on their projected roles in key areas of the depth chart. 

Quarterback Sean Maguire

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The race to succeed Winston at quarterback may be decided shortly after Saturday's scrimmage. 

In an interview with Andrea Adelson of ESPN.com, Jimbo Fisher said that the redshirt junior is separating himself from the rest of the competition. Provided he stays healthy, he will likely be named the starter heading into summer workouts. 

"If I had to bet right now, yes, but we’ll wait and see," Fisher told Adelson. "As of right now, he’s done the things he needs to be doing."

Maguire is the only quarterback on roster with playing experience. Last year, he started one game—a 23-17 overtime victory over Clemson—throwing for 304 yards and a touchdown in that effort. 

John Franklin III, early-enrolling freshman De'Andre Johnson and redshirt freshman J.J. Cosentino are the other quarterbacks competing for the job. Watch for Maguire, though, since he appears to have the inside track to starting in Week 1. 

Wide Receiver Ermon Lane

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Now that Rashad Greene is gone, Travis Rudolph seems primed to become the new No. 1 receiver. 

Who takes on the No. 2 role remains to be seen, but sophomore Ermon Lane is an intriguing name. The former 5-star prospect caught 13 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown last season, but he is looking to become a bigger part of the offense. 

As noted by Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel last week, Lane has been practicing with the first-team offense: 

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Bobo Wilson appears healthy after dealing with a gastrointestinal bug and was one of the starters, as projected, when FSU went three-wide. Wilson lined up on the outside, however, while Travis Rudolph was in the slot next to Ermon Lane. Rudolph is the most polished of all of FSU’s receivers, but he may be able to create the most damage as a slot receiver.

"

At 6'3" and 205 pounds, Lane is a big-bodied receiver who can be a real red-zone weapon. Fisher has been complimentary of Lane before, so Saturday will be a good chance to see what he's capable of. 

Offensive Lineman Alec Eberle

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The Seminoles will have a new-look offensive line in 2015 after losing not just four starters from last year's group but four seniors. 

Overall, the new O-line is starting to come together. However, there's one spot that remains up for grabs: center. 

Based on recent reports, redshirt freshman Alec Eberle is beginning to stand out. Specifically, Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel writes Eberle has been impressing with his "toughness and ability to learn from mistakes." 

Considering center is a field-general position, it's an important battle this offseason. 

“Knowledge and making calls, getting more consistent on his calls—'cause he’s like the quarterback on run plays," Fisher told Sonnone when asked about Eberle's strengths. "You gotta make the calls. And he’s a very tough guy. He’s a hard worker.”

Don't be mistaken. There could be plenty of shifts along the offensive line between now and September. However, Eberle has jumped would-be incumbent starter Ryan Hoefeld, who is out with a knee injury. 

Defensive Tackle Nile Lawrence-Stample

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The interior of Florida State's defensive line lost one of the most valuable players from last year: defensive tackle Eddie Goldman. With Goldman's departure, Florida State loses its leader in sacks and eight tackles for loss. 

While injuries have taken their toll this spring, there's plenty of depth at the defensive tackle spots once everyone is healthy. Nile Lawrence-Stample should emerge as the starter there. Lawrence-Stample missed most of last season with a torn pectoral muscle but was able to return for the Rose Bowl. 

According to Dustin Tackett of the Tallahassee Democrat, "Look for sophomore Derrick Nnadi and redshirt freshman Demarcus Christmas to also be standout players while redshirt senior Giorgio Newberry, redshirt junior Justin Shanks and redshirt sophomore Keith Bryant also see snaps in the rotation." 

Bud Elliott of Tomahawk Nation adds that Nnadi had "good handwork and tremendous lower-body strength in limited action" last season. 

Lawrence-Stample is a solid veteran in the middle of the defense. With so many new starters, he'll be a valuable contributor. 

Cornerback Marquez White

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With Ronald Darby and P.J. Williams gone, Jalen Ramsey is making the move from safety to corner. But who will play opposite Ramsey?

An early leader in the clubhouse, it seems, is Marquez White. A reserve corner thus far in his career, White has been battling this spring with Ryan Green for first-team reps. 

There's been a good buzz building around White recently, with Fisher singing the junior's praises. 

“He’s flashed at me today,” Fisher said via Wayne McGahee of NoleDigest.com. “He made three of four really good plays that weren’t bad throws, weren’t bad routes, but he made good plays. He ad-libbed and slid under a guy one time and batted a ball. The last two days Marquez has caught my eye.”

Defensive Back Trey Marshall

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As mentioned before, defensive back Jalen Ramsey is moving to cornerback in 2015. So, who replaces Ramsey at the "star" position?

Sophomore Trey Marshall played that position last season as a freshman, most notably against Georgia Tech in the ACC championship game. Things worked well. Marshall recorded a season-best five tackles against the Yellow Jackets. 

With Ramsey making a permanent move elsewhere, this is Marshall's job to lose. 

There's also plenty of buzz about freshman Derwin James, a 5-star member of the Seminoles' 2015 class. With safety Tyler Hunter out for the rest of spring with a torn meniscus, the secondary will have plenty of new faces getting practice time. 

Ramsey is versatile enough that he'll move around, but Marshall is locked in to take one of the safety jobs. James could see some playing time as well. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football at Bleacher Report. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com. All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.