With Florida State set to face an FCS opponent this weekend at Doak Campbell Stadium, this is the kind of game that can create real value beyond the scoreboard. If the Seminoles get the separation they’re expected to get, it should open the door for some lightly used depth to finally see the field.
That makes Saturday a good chance to learn more about a handful of players who haven’t had much room to show what they can do yet. Here are 10 Seminoles who could use a bigger role.
QB Malachi Marshall
Marshall still hasn’t made his Florida State debut. The junior college transfer arrived over the summer and had to add weight and catch up to quarterbacks who had already gone through spring work, or more. By all accounts, he’s handled that process well.
His arm is the biggest upside trait in the quarterback room, but he’s also the least experienced at this level. It would be useful to see him get some snaps, settle in, and show how he handles the offense.
Marshall is currently listed in an -or- backup situation with Kevin Sperry behind starter Ashton Daniels.
RB Amari Thomas
Florida State’s running back depth took a hit with Samuel Singleton Jr. out injured, and that makes Thomas worth watching. The freshman from nearby has drawn praise for flashes in practice, and at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, he has the kind of build that stands out.
There’s still work to be done in the parts of the position that don’t show up when the ball is in his hands, but it would be good to see whether he can give FSU something as it looks for a second option behind Ousmane Kromah.
Thomas was listed as the backup to Singleton on last week’s depth chart.
WR Jasen Lopez
Lopez entered preseason camp with plenty of buzz and has been steady fielding punts, but his offensive role has been tiny. He has just 20 total offensive snaps and only nine on passing plays, and he’s still looking for his first college catch.
With FSU now having just two players with more than six receptions through three games, Lopez is a logical candidate to become the next receiving option behind Duce Robinson and Micahi Danzy.
Lopez is listed as Danzy’s backup on last week’s depth chart.
TE Chase Loftin
Loftin has logged only about three dozen snaps in three games, which leaves plenty of room for more. He’s the kind of target who can line up inline or flexed out, and that gives Florida State a different body type to work with in the passing game.
So far, though, the production hasn’t followed. He has one catch on 19 passing snaps, and the tight end group has produced only five receptions through three games. Someone in that room needs to emerge.
Loftin is not currently listed on the depth chart.
OT Jonathan Daniels
Florida State had to make a change at right tackle after Chimdia Nwaiwu struggled out of the gate, and that pushed Nate Pabst outside, away from the guard spot where he fits best. That kind of shuffle can only go so far before the depth chart needs another answer.
Daniels should get a look to see whether he can help solve the tackle picture and possibly become part of the Seminoles’ best five up front.
Daniels is listed as the backup to Nwaiwu and Pabst in an -or- situation on last week’s depth chart.
Jack Jaemin Pinckney
The Seminoles have only four sacks through three games, which tells the story on the edge pretty clearly. Pinckney, a 6-foot-5, 220-plus pound edge player, drew praise in preseason camp for the way he worked himself into the deeper part of the rotation.
Now Florida State could use a look at whether that first step can translate into pressure on the quarterback.
Pinckney is not currently listed on the depth chart.
DT Kevin Wynn
Wynn, now in his second year, has played 38 snaps, with his role growing quite a bit against Alabama. He was praised for what he brought in 16 snaps against the Crimson Tide, and his size is part of the appeal.
At 6-foot-2 and 317 pounds, he gives FSU some interior bulk it has been missing. A longer look could help determine whether he can be part of the right combination on the defensive front.
Wynn is listed in an -or- situation with Jordan Sanders as a backup to Daniel Lyons at defensive tackle.
LB Karon Maycock
The linebacker room changed quickly when Blake Nichelson went down with an injury that will keep him out for several weeks, and Florida State also lost two freshmen for the season. Caleb LaVallee is also dealing with injuries, which makes the room even thinner.
That leaves Maycock, a freshman, as the next man up. Getting him reps now would at least prepare him for a possible bigger role that may come sooner rather than later out of necessity.
Maycock was not listed on last week’s depth chart, which dropped FSU from three linebacker spots to two.
CB Charles Lester III
S Max Redmon
Redmon has seen only 10 defensive snaps this season, all of them against SMU. The sophomore, listed at 6-foot-1 and 196 pounds, can help at safety, and Florida State has been searching for dependable depth there.
It would be worth seeing where he fits and what kind of flexibility he can provide.
In Other News...
Florida States Passing Struggles Put One Norvell Staff Decision Under Fire
Florida States passing game has become one of the more frustrating parts of an uneven season, and the discussion around it has started to focus as much on coaching structure as on quarterback play. The Seminoles entered the year with Austin Tucker handling the quarterbacks room, a notable setup for a former wide receiver who had not previously coached the position, and the production has not taken a step forward.
With the offense ranking 65th in the FBS and Ashton Daniels sitting at four touchdown passes and four interceptions, the scrutiny around that decision has only grown. Inside the staff, there are other options with more direct quarterback experience, including Tom Herman and Brady White, which makes the current arrangement look even more unusual as Florida State searches for answers through the air. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Could Finally Get Answer On Its Backup QB Battle
Florida State has spent the first three games of the 2026 season looking competitive, but the more intriguing development may be happening behind the starter. Ashton Daniels has handled every snap in the most recent game, while the Seminoles have kept the backup quarterback picture open between Malachi Marshall and Kevin Sperry. Marshall has been taking second-team reps in pregame, a sign that the staff is at least sorting out the depth chart while the games still matter.
Central Arkansas arrives on the schedule Sept. 26, and that matchup could finally give the Seminoles a chance to see what they have behind Daniels. If Florida State does turn to its backups, it would offer a real evaluation point in a battle that has been mostly fought in practice and pregame work so far. For a team that has stayed competitive early, the next question is less about the starter and more about who is ready if the Seminoles need the next man up. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Has A New Reason To Watch Ta'Shawn Poole Closely
Ta'Shawn Poole turned in one of the more eye-catching nights on a Georgia high school field this fall, and it came at a good time for a player Florida State will want to keep tabs on. In Howards 49-43 regional win over Baldwin, Poole set a Georgia state record with six touchdown catches while piling up 245 receiving yards, a performance that put his name squarely on the radar.
The outburst also came with some grit behind it, because Howard was coming off losses to Valdosta and Perry before finally breaking through. Poole also chipped in seven tackles and a tackle for loss, underscoring how much he affects the game on both sides of the ball, and he and his teammates made clear afterward that the lesson was about learning to keep fighting until the end. [Read more 🡒]