Nothing about the 2024 Florida State offense carried over to the 2025 unit.
Florida State football replaced its offensive coordinator, wide receiver coach, offensive line coach, quarterback, leading rusher, and its top four receiving yards leaders from a team that ranked 130th out of 133 Division I teams in scoring offense.
While that all seems like a positive, and it is, starting from scratch creates learning curves and growing pains. The Florida State offense appeared to be a work in progress during the second scrimmage of the spring. However, under Malzahn’s leadership, the offense plays with a purpose and understands the goals each play attempts to achieve, a statement that could not have been made a season ago. While Florida State may hit the transfer portal for a couple of additional pieces after spring, the bulk of the group appears to be set heading into the summer. Below is my projected post-spring two-deep depth chart, written in the same format as Florida State announces its depth charts in the fall.
2025 FSU football projected depth chart: Offense
Quarterback
- Senior Tommy Castellanos
- Redshirt Sophomore Brock Glenn
- Freshman Kevin Sperry
Analysis: Perhaps no two players were talked about more by coaches or players than Castellanos and Sperry. Castellanos, the transfer quarterback from Boston College, quieted any doubts of him not being a team player, with every person, to a man, lauding his leadership and the way he brought the 2025 team together. He fits the mold of the Malzahn offense and will not be afraid to tuck the ball and run 10-12 times per game. Sperry, a true freshman, clearly impressed Mike Norvell and Gus Malzahn enough to receive split reps with Castellanos and Glenn during the scrimmages. The former Oklahoma commit reportedly possesses game-breaking speed and the moxie of a veteran, potentially leading to Trever Jackson transferring from the program. Glenn deserves a ton of respect for sticking around, knowing he would not be the starter, but I wonder what his endgame path is in Tallahassee
Running back
- Redshirt senior Roydell Williams
- Sophomore Kam Davis
- Redshirt sophomore Sam Singleton Jr.
- Redshirt junior Jaylin Lucas
Underclassman to watch: Incoming freshman Ousmane Kromah
Analysis: Florida State has a staple of capable backs with college experience, yet none feel like true game-breakers or a proven commodity. Florida State typically divides its depth chart into two categories for running backs, so I categorized the bruisers in one group and the speedier options in another. Roydell Williams returns for his sixth season of college football and should be healthier after missing most of 2024 with an injury. He brings valuable leadership and experience and is a good one-cut runner, but what is the ceiling? Kam Davis also ended his final part of 2024 banged up but seemed ready to go come spring. He appeared in much better shape when he spoke with the media after spring practice, but there still seems to be a learning curve process being undertaken by the former high school quarterback. Singleton made some impressive plays in the scrimmage, which is why I put him ahead of Lucas. Additionally, Lucas will likely see more action as a pass-catcher, and classifying him as a running back does not accurately reflect his role. Both are vital change-of-pace options but are not bell-cow backs. The Florida State coaching staff has lofty expectations for Kromah, who will enroll in the summer with a college-ready body, and he should expand his role as the season progresses.
Wide Receiver
- Junior Duce Robinson
- Redshirt freshman Elijah Moore
- Senior Squirrel White
- Freshman Jayvan Boggs
Underclassman to watch: Redshirt freshman Willy Suarez
Analysis: The spring portal window took a sledgehammer to the depth in the wide receiver corps, and the Seminoles may add another piece here, but the top options seem set entering fall. Duce Robinson missed the second scrimmage and battled injuries throughout the spring, but he will be the No. 1 target for Castellanos, and their chemistry off the field should translate to success on the field. White also missed time due to injury and recovering from a previous condition during his final season at Tennessee, but he expects to be healthy for the upcoming season, and Florida State will benefit from it. While not the biggest guy on the field, his quickness and agility should allow him to touch the ball early and often in games, and his experience will come in handy to a relatively young roster. Besides those two, there are a lot of young question marks, but Moore and the true freshman Boggs seem most likely to earn the most snaps. Moore redshirted the final part of his first season in Tallahassee, but his frame and athleticism cannot be denied. With Hykeem Williams and Jordan Scott gone, Norvell needs another big-body receiver. Boggs lit up the prep ranks in his senior season but was underrecruited, so it was unclear how his production would translate to college. Through spring, coaches constantly lavish him with praise, and it seems like he is more advanced than a freshman. Willy Suarez is more of a dark-horse pick than anything else, but he made some solid plays during the scrimmage and may factor into the plans come fall.
Tight End
- Sophomore Landen Thomas
- Junior Randy Pittman Jr.
Underclassman to watch: Freshman Chase Loftin
These might be the least controversial rankings on the depth chart. Landen Thomas received ample playing time as a freshman, grew into his role, and is primed to take the next step in his sophomore season. Pittman Jr. came over from Cincinnati, is familiar with the Malzahn offense, and has the versatility to be a Swiss Army knife in Florida State’s passing attack. Markeston Douglas flirting with the portal and a couple of big-body pass-catchers tells me that Loftin is ahead of schedule. The 6-foot-6 freshman possesses the size needed to compete in college but will be taking a massive step up in difficulty from Nebraska high school football.
Left Tackle
- Redshirt senior Gunnar Hansen
- Redshirt sophomore Lucas Simmons
Analysis: Hansen seemed to be banged up during spring, but Florida State did not take the 35-game SEC starter to sit on the bench. With tons of experience under his belt and a frame that can hold up against edge rushers, Hansen feels penciled into the left tackle spot. Simmons enters year three in Tallahassee without a clear line to playing time, but the 6-foot-8 offensive tackle certainly has the body to start games at the Power Four level. Hopefully, he will have the opportunity to see the field more in 2025, as the talent is there.
Left Guard
- Redshirt senior Adrian Medley
- Redshirt sophomore Andre’ Otto
Analysis: Medley may be more of a swing player, sort of like the early version of Darius Washington, but I will start him at left guard because that seems to be the open spot on the line. Medley, a college football veteran, has been coached under Malzahn and offensive line coach Herb Hand for multiple years and will factor heavily into Florida State’s plans. Otto received playing time in 2024 as Florida State shuffled the deck virtually every week to find a serviceable offensive line combination. Norvell mentioned him as a young player improving during spring, but they also said that last season, so Otto starts as a reserve.
Center
- Redshirt senior Luke Petitbon
- Redshirt senior Jacob Rizy
Analysis: When I asked Malzahn after the second scrimmage what he thought of the offensive line play so far during spring, he gushed over Petitbon and what he brought to the program. Not only is he a lock to be the starting center come fall, but he may grade out as one of the best players on the roster, given the way the coaches speak about him. Rizy seems to be a forgotten name, especially with Norvell taking two interior offensive line transfers. However, Pro Football Focus rated him as one of the Seminoles’ better offensive linemen in 2024, which, although it may not say much, suggests that another offseason should allow him to take the next step. He is one of the oldest players on the roster and possesses the versatility to play along the line, but he starts at center due to his snapping capability.
Right Guard
- Redshirt senior Richie Leonard IV
- Redshirt senior Bryson Estes
Analysis: Leonard missed most of 2024 with an upper-body injury, which ended up turning the Florida State offensive line into a tailspin. Leonard may not grade out as an NFL lineman, but he is a college football veteran, and his Pro Football Focus numbers suggest he can hold his own on the interior. Estes always gains praise from Norvell during the offseason and is another depth piece for the Seminoles on the inside.
Right Tackle
- Redshirt senior Micah Pettus
- Redshirt freshman Jonathan Daniels
Analysis: Pettus did not complete a full spring, like most of the starting offensive line, due to injury, but like the others, he was brought to Tallahassee to play. The 6-foot-7 mountain of a man had a strange ending to his time at Ole Miss but seems more focused in Tallahassee and wants to prove his worth to NFL teams. Daniels is a younger piece recruited by Atkins but stayed with Florida State after his first season. With multiple members of the offensive line out, he stepped in for extended snaps during Florida State’s second scrimmage and held his own. His body may not be ready for the grind of a full college football season, but his athleticism and build point to his potential as a starter down the road.
