2023 Season-In-Review

Record: 13-1 – L, 63-3 vs. Georgia in Orange Bowl

Florida State turned out to be the most controversial team of the season in 2023. Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending ankle injury against North Alabama in the middle of November with just one game left in the regular season. The Seminoles finished 13-0 after a 16-6 victory over Louisville in the ACC Championship.

The selection committee decided to keep Florida State out of the field for the final year of the four-team College Football Playoff. They referenced the injury to Travis and the team went onto get dominated by Georgia in the Orange Bowl.

Offense: Seminoles Look To Replace Major Weapons

Key Players: QB DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State transfer), RB Roydell Williams (Alabama transfer), WR Hykeem Williams, WR Malik Benson (Alabama transfer), OT TJ Ferguson (Alabama transfer), OT Darius Washington

Key Losses: QB Jordan Travis (NYJ), RB Trey Benson (ARI), WR Keon Coleman (BUF), OT Bless Harris (TCU), WR Johnny Wilson (PHI)

Florida State saw massive turnover this offseason with the loss of Jordan Travis, along with Trey Benson and leading receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson. Luckily, with this day and age in the transfer portal, head coach Mike Norvell got a chance to retool.

First and foremost, the most important position on the field will see DJ Uiagalelei take over after rebuilding his game at Oregon State. The transfer quarterback gives Florida State a chance to compete right away while developing young talent at the position. That is the name of the game nowadays. Uiagalelei will do it behind an experienced offensive line. The Seminoles return multi-year players across the board, led by tackle Robert Scott Jr. Center Maurice Smith also gives Florida State experience at an important position. If the line is healthy, it has a chance to be one of the best units in the nation.

At the skill positions, Florida State brought in transfers Malik Benson (Alabama) and Jalen Brown (LSU). Along with Ja’Khi Douglas and Hykeem Williams, the offense has plenty of talent on the outside. This will be able to make up for a lack of star power in the backfield. The running backs are a deep group but do not have that established star with Benson gone.

Overall, the addition of Uiagalelei allows Norvell to get the ball to his weapons on the outside. The state of the Seminoles is expected to be in a good spot once again.

Defense: How Quickly Will It Come Together?

Key Players: EDGE Marvin Jones Jr. (Georgia transfer), DT Joshua Farmer, LB DJ Lundy, Davonte Brown (Miami transfer), DT Patrick Payton, DB Shyheim Brown, DB Azareye’h Thomas

Key Losses: EDGE Jared Verse (LAR), LB Kalen DeLoach (TB), LB Tatum Bethune (SF), S Akeem Dent (LAC), DT Braden Fiske (LAR), S Renardo Green (SF), DB Jarrian Jones (JAX)

Florida State lost plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball to the NFL. This is coming from a unit that allowed fewer completions than incompletions last season, which was the only unit in the nation to do this. The Seminoles will look to replace many holes, and should be able to do so with the players coming in. The question is, how long will it take for the unit to gel?

The answer is yet to be seen but there is a chance that defensive coordinator Adam Fuller has its side of the ball ready to go quite early. This is because of the returning talent at all three levels. Patrick Payton and Joshua Farmer return along the defensive line after combining for 12 sacks last season. DJ Lundy was third on the team last season with 54 tackles in the middle while Shyheim Brown and Azareye’h Thomas patrol the secondary.

Florida State has new pieces on both sides of the ball but the defense returns plenty while looking to plug in holes lost to the NFL. Early in the year, it would not be a surprise to see the Seminoles ride their defense and make it difficult for opposing teams.

Florida State Football Schedule

• Saturday, Aug. 24: vs. Georgia Tech
• Monday, Sept. 2: vs. Boston College
• Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. Memphis
• Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Cal
• Saturday, Sept. 28: at SMU
• Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. Clemson
• Friday, Oct. 18: at Duke
• Saturday, Oct. 26: at Miami
• Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. North Carolina
• Saturday, Nov. 9: at Notre Dame
• Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Charleston Southern
• Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Florida