Linebackers encouraged by progress sparked by new coaches
Leonard Warner III has seen it all during his three seasons playing linebacker at Florida State.
The Seminoles went from the ACC board room to the mailroom in a short time, with back-to-back losing seasons and multiple coaching changes during that stretch.
For Warner and fellow senior linebacker Emmett Rice, the direction under new coach Mike Norvell and his staff — the third coaching staff since their arrival — can only trend upward.
“Honestly, we’re just ready to win. It’s as simple as that,” Warner said.
“We’ve bought in and we believe in this staff and they have faith in us,” added Warner, whose 16 career starts are the most among the linebacker group.
Warner, along with Rice and sophomore Amari Gainer, gives the Seminoles experience at a position that hasn’t been outstanding for the Seminoles in more than a decade.
FSU hasn’t had a linebacker named to an all-conference team since Reggie Northrup in 2015 and the last Seminoles linebacker selected in an NFL draft was Telvin Smith in 2014.
But since the arrival of Norvell and new linebackers coach Chris Marve, the players have noticed changes.
“The biggest difference in the team is the feeling by the players,” Warner said. “The leadership and the accountability, even from guys you might not think like leaders. They feel like they have a voice. I think it’s been infectious and it’s beautiful to watch honestly.”
Marve’s intensity and knowledge of the game stands out among the players.
“There’s not a day that he doesn’t come in with the mindset of getting better with helping us get better,” redshirt junior DeCalon Brooks said. “He wants to make sure we uphold a standard at linebacker.”
Added Warner, “Not just the team standard, but his standard and making sure no one in that room falls below that for any reason on any front — as a man and as a player. That’s a reason we’ve been able to grow and gel.”
New defensive coordinator Adam Fuller has been impressed with the blend of experience and youth showcased by the unit.
“It’s a group that has a good dynamic of some seasoned vets that are playing their best football or trying to play their best football and younger guys that should get better every day because they don’t know any better,” said Fuller, who followed Norvell to Tallahassee from Memphis.
Stephen Dix Jr., an early enrollee from Orlando’s Dr. Phillips
High, and DJ Lundy to the group.
“It almost brings tears to my eyes to think about the difference in how that position room feels now from when I got there,” Warner said of the linebackers. “No offense to any of the older guys but it’s a lot closer.”
The ability to weave in players like Dix and Lundy along with freshman Jayion McCluster and redshirt freshman Kevon Glenn has given the Seminoles some much-needed linebacker depth. Marve said he won’t be afraid to lean on that depth.
“If you have several people who can play or who you feel confident with being on the field — you always like that as a coach,” said Marve, who cut his coaching teeth in the SEC during stops at Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. “This game is very physical and it’s very violent at times especially at the level that we play so you always want to have young men who are prepared and who you can trust and have tremendous confidence in.
“Quite frankly, competition breeds excellence and I like to get as many people ready as possible.”
are newcomers
Walk-on earn scholarships: FSU coach Mike Norvell awarded scholarships to a pair of walk-ons — tight end Wyatt Rector, a Leesburg High alum, and running back Deonte Sheffield.
“I like what I’m seeing from them and their development,” Norvell said following practice Tuesday. “I do believe they’ve put themselves in a position to help this football team this year.
“I’m really proud of the work that does go in to be able to earn that tremendous reward.”
Norvell, who was a walk-on receiver at Central Arkansas, said he met with the players individually to give them the good news.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that are working extremely hard and have bright futures here,” Norvell said. “Some of them get put on scholarship and some of them not at this present moment but I do believe they have an opportunity here in their future but I like to keep that individually focused.”
Injury update: Norvell confirmed freshman offensive lineman Zane Herring will miss this upcoming season after having shoulder surgery this week.