The 2023 season came to a screeching halt for Florida State football following a snub from the College Football Playoff Committee , opt-outs and a historically bad loss to Georgia in the Orange Bowl .
But following a 13-1* record, head coach Mike Norvell and his staff have coached the Seminoles to a 23-4 mark the last two seasons after going 8-13 over the first two seasons.
The turnaround will continue, even as FSU attempts to replace a team in 2023 that was built to contend for the playoffs.
The Seminoles finished with 13 wins and won the ACC Championship for the first time since 2014. Nothing to hang your head about.
Here's a look at how the FSU roster could shape up and some potential candidates for additions in the NCAA Transfer Portal. Here's a look at the offensive side.
DJ Uiagalelei - graduate transfer
Brock Glenn - redshirt freshman
Luke Kromenhoek - freshman
Update (2:30 p.m. Monday): DJ Uiagalelei is joining FSU as the heir to Jordan Travis .
Analysis:FSU will not enter 2024 with just two scholarship QBs following Jordan Travis ' graduation and the Christmas Day decision for Tate Rodemaker to transfer.
Transfers Cam Ward ( Washington State ) and DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State) entered the offseason as options 1A and 1B for the Seminoles at the most important position. Both made official visits to Tallahassee.
Reports surfaced on New Year's Eve that Cam Ward was headed to the NFL or rival Miami. Uiagalelei is likely the FSU QB in 2024.
Lawrance Toafili - redshirt senior
Caziah Holmes - redshirt junior
Samuel Singleton - redshirt freshman
Kam Davis - freshman
Micahi Danzy - freshman
Analysis:This position was less of a need heading into the offseason. But with departures from Trey Benson (draft), CJ Campbell (transfer to FAU) and Rodney Hill (FAMU), the need for a running back is likely there, but not the priority.
With Toafili (undisclosed) out of the Orange Bowl due to season-ending surgery, it was actually versatile receiver J a'Khi Douglas who led the team with eight rushes for 46 yards. Could a positional switch could be on the table?
Toledo's Peny Boone has been a widely speculated name as a fit for the Seminoles. He rushed for 1,400 yards and averaged 7.2 yards per carry in 2023.
Ja'Khi Douglas - redshirt senior
Kentron Poitier - redshirt senior
Deuce Spann - redshirt junior
Darion Williamson - redshirt junior
Joshua Burrell - redshirt junior
Destyn Hill - sophomore
Hykeem Williams - sophomore
Vandrevius Jacobs - redshirt freshman
Goldie Lawrance - redshirt freshman
Elijah Moore - freshman
Camdon Frier - freshman
BJ Gibson - freshman
Lawyane McCoy - freshman
Analysis:FSU likely feels more confident in this room, even with a lot of youth, if it could complete the flip of 5-star prospect Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State).
The Seminoles have a ton of talent in this room, but don't necessarily have a bonafide No. 1 option, ala Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman.
Hill and Williams are two guys FSU believes a ton in and played a bunch as freshmen.
The big splash here could be Texas A&M's Evan Stewart, who is ranked as the No. 1 WR and the No. 2 overall player in the transfer portal, per 247Sports. Stewart caught 38 passes for 514 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore with the Aggies.
Kyle Morlock - redshirt junior
Jackson West - redshirt junior
Brian Courtney - redshirt sophomore
Jerrale Powers - redshirt sophomore
Landen Thomas - freshman
Analysis:Even with the losses of Jaheim Bell (NFL Draft), Markeston Douglas (transfer) and Preston Daniel (transfer), this is a very talented room.
With Morlock stepping into a bigger role and freshman 4-star recruit Thomas expected to make an immediate impact, this is likely a position FSU doesn't pursue too aggressively in the portal.
Jeremiah Byers - redshirt senior
Darius Washington - redshirt senior
Maurice Smith - redshirt senior
Keiondre Jones - redshirt senior
Robert Scott - redshirt junior
Bryson Estes - redshirt junior
Julian Armella - redshirt sophomore
Jaylen Early - redshirt sophomore
Kanaya Charlton - redshirt sophomore
Andre' Otto - redshirt freshman
Lucas Simmons - redshirt freshman
Jonathan Daniels - freshman
Manasse Itete - freshman
Tye Hylton - freshman
Jayden Todd - freshman
Analysis: This is a room where there could be some attrition, with some guys deciding in the spring there could be more of a chance of playing time elsewhere.
The Seminoles are expected to pursue at least one or two additions to the room, with guard likely being the focus, as D'Mitri Emmanuel and Casey Roddick have exhausted eligibility and are moving on.
Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Alex Atkins is always trying to create competition at the position and used an eight-man rotation in 2023. So FSU will add talent either at guard or tackle, based on who is available and the best fit.
FSU already hosted Indiana left tackle Carter Smith on an official last month. Former Florida starting right guard Micah Mazzccua could be an intriguing name with experience and success at Baylor and with the Gators.
Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports), Instagram (tlhnolesports) and YouTube channel (NoleSportsTD).
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DJ Uiagalelei expected to pick FSU football. How rest of roster looks
