Florida State offensive line recruiting in 2019: Offers, targets, board

Florida State Seminoles football is slated to return 11 offensive linemen in 2019, although attrition of at least one more should be expected. Florida State should be looking to carry at least 15 linemen, but given how many players now seem like lost causes (as players, not people), getting that number up to 16 or 17 would be better.

Taking five or six offensive linemen wouldn’t be a bad idea, seeing as a few current players are looking like lost causes. FSU’s offensive line was an absolute disaster this year, due mostly to injury and attrition (along with lack of development from the prior staff). It wrecked the season. They got their butts kicked each and every week.

It’s not a stretch to think FSU’s starting five on the offensive line next year will be completely different than what it was against Florida.

FSU’s OL likely won’t be above average in 2019, but if it can just go from the worst in the Power 5 to below average, that’s still a huge leap.

Signees

FSU landed three linemen during the Early Signing Period, and all enrolled early.

• Dontae Lucas, IMG Academy: Lucas is a top offensive guard commitment for Florida State. He’s 6’3, 330, with great power. FSU tight ends coach Telly Lockette coached his brother Marquis (WVU signee, most recently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) when he was the head coach at Miami Central.
• Jay Williams, JUCO OT: Williams was a receiver in high school and has added five inches and 100 pounds in the years since. He is likely penciled in as a starter.
• Maurice Smith, Miami (FL) Central: Smith is a three-star interior lineman who has played a lot of good snaps against elite competition. He is not a superstar recruit, but FSU also badly needs to raise the floor of the position.

Transfers

• Ryan Roberts, Northern Illinois: FSU went out and landed a grad transfer tackle. Other potential candidates are below.

Commitments

None at the moment.

Offers

Note: This list is relevant, realistic offers. For example: If FSU offers a California athlete who has already committed to USC and is a legacy of the Trojans, we won’t waste your time listing him unless the player shows a real interest.

• Ira Henry, St. Louis (MO) Trinity Catholic: Florida State offered the 6’5 tackle on December 7. He visited on January 25, and this is a battle between FSU and Auburn.
• Darius Washington, Pensacola (FL) West Florida Tech: Washington is a tackle who is a bit on the shorter side. He is committed to Mississippi State. A visit to Florida State on the 25th is happened, but he also really likes Miami.
• Kamaar Bell, Moultrie (GA) Colquitt County: Bell is a very large guard on whom FSU has circled back. He attended FSU’s camp over the summer. Auburn was his leader, but FSU hosted him on the 25th, and has early playing time to sell.

Potential Offers

None at the moment

Potential Grad Transfers

FSU would like to bring in another college-ready body, for obvious reasons. These players would enroll over the summer. The bar is much higher for interior players. FSU should basically look to take any tackle with a pulse.

• R.J. Proctor, Virginia: Proctor has been in consistent contact with the Seminoles and is a priority target.
• Ryan Alexander, South Alabama: Alexander started for two years at tackle.
• Drew Richmond, Tennessee: Richmond had a poor year with the Volunteers, but was once a five-star recruit.
• Parker Braun, Georgia Tech: Braun is a very nice guard prospect from Florida. FSU and Florida will be strongly interested.

Notes

12/7: Added: OT Ira Henry, of STL.

12/13: Removed: Charles Cross, Nick Pendley. Added: Keiondre Jones.

Jones, Smith, and Williams are all on campus this weekend.

12/17: Williams committed, giving FSU two commitments. Smith committed, giving it three. It needs two more.

12/22: Removed: Charles Turner (signed with LSU), Keiondre Jones (signed with Auburn), Will Putnam (Clemson), Evan Neal (Alabama), Brandon Rolfe (UTSA). Added: Parris Heath, Tim Anderson, Darius Washington.

1/22: Removed: Dawand Jones, who is not visiting. OL Kadeem Telfort is no longer being recruited by FSU due to academics. Added: Darius Washington, move from potential offer column to offer column.

1/30: Removed: Robert Jones, who committed to Middle Tennessee (FSU did not offer); James Price, (committed to Washington State, FSU did not offer); Tim Anderson (FSU did not offer); Desmond Bland

Outlook

Florida State stayed on its elite targets too long, which caused it to be late in offering its Plan B targets, and it has had to settle for offering some plan C and D targets now. FSU needs to land another JUCO or grad transfer, and another high school player. It seems as if FSU is likely to take two more high school players, if it can get them.

In our opinion, if FSU only takes 4-5 high school linemen, it will have playing time to sell to elite tackle recruits come the 2020 class. That is the best path to a decent line in 2020, and perhaps a good one by 2021.