The 2013 BCS National Champions will be getting their 2014 campaign underway in Dallas on August 30th. After winning its first national championship in 14 years last season, Florida State looks to have a very good shot at defending its title. Though quarterback Jameis Winston will garner most of the attention, FSU looks to be solid from top to bottom as Noled Out continues its position previews.
While Florida State is expected to boast one of the nation’s premier secondaries, the front seven for FSU is extremely young. Perhaps the youngest contingent on the entire team this season will be the corps of linebackers. The Seminoles will be replacing a pair of very experienced starters in Telvin Smith and Christian Jones with a talented group of underclassmen without a lot of meaningful playing time under their belts. This young group of linebackers however, may be one of the fastest that Florida State has had in a long time and for opposing teams, that’s a scary thought.
The Headliner
Terrance Smith, Junior
The lone returning starter, Terrance Smith is expected to have a breakout season in 2014 after playing in the shadows of so many talented Seminoles. As a sophomore a season ago, Smith finished with 59 tackles, two sacks and an interception. While a bit undersized at 220 pounds, Smith is a sideline-to-sideline player that will be forced to take on a leadership role this season. FSU will rotate a number of talented players around him, but be surprised if Smith is not the standout at the position.
The Sleeper
Ukeme Eligwe, Sophomore
With all of the young freshman talent for Florida State, redshirt sophomore Ukeme Eligwe is sometimes a lost man in the mix at linebacker. Though Eligwe didn’t put up huge numbers for the Seminoles in 2013, he served as a special teams demon and one of the best pass-rushers that Florida State had from the linebacker position. While Eligwe may not be the sideline-to-sideline guy that Smith is, he can be used in a number of ways, making him a real weapon for Charles Kelly’s defense.
The Future
Matthew Thomas, Freshman
A former five-star recruit out of Miami, Matthew Thomas initially wanted out of his commitment to Florida State, but has bought in to what the Seminoles are selling. There isn’t much that Thomas can’t do as the redshirt freshman has All-American type talent. Thomas recorded two tackles for loss and a sack in four games last season before being lost to a season-ending shoulder injury. With two starters gone from a season ago, Thomas should see a lot of the field in 2014.
Other Names to Know
Ro’Derrick Hoskins, Freshman
A redshirt freshman out of Orlando, Ro’Derrick Hoskins has yet to make his Florida State debut, but has great speed and a nose for the football. In April’s spring game, Hoskins recorded a pair of sacks and returned an interception 63 yards for a touchdown.
E.J. Levenberry, Sophomore
E.J. Levenberry has yet to play many meaningful snaps on defense, but like Eligwe, excelled as a special teamer last season and recorded 39 total tackles. Levenberry was Florida State’s leading tackler in the spring game and has made some plays in his brief career including a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown last season against Idaho. Best suited to play inside, Levenberry may very well be FSU’s best tackling linebacker.
Reggie Northrup, Junior
A junior from Jacksonville, Northrup will serve as one of Florida State’s most veteran linebackers. Used mostly on special teams, Northrup recorded 46 tackles in 2013 including a career-high 11 in a victory over Syracuse. Northrup earned some national attention for doing the robot on the sideline against Clemson last season, but will certainly look to bolster his persona for what he’s capable of doing on the field.
Overview
While there is no shortage of talent, depth or speed at the linebacker position for Florida State, experience could be an issue. The Seminoles have a number of highly recruited kids at the position, but there could be a learning curve during the first month of the season which includes critical contests against Oklahoma State and Clemson. Add incoming freshmen Jacob Pugh and Kain Daub to what Florida State has coming back and the Seminoles look to be set at linebacker for years to come. Finding the right combinations for 2014 however, could take a while. Fortunately for Florida State, there may be enough talent up front and in the secondary to offset some of the potential growing pains at linebacker.
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