Even before the season began, there were questions about how Florida State’s defensive line could build on its progress demonstrated last season with the losses of Jermaine Johnson II and Keir Thomas.
Entering Saturday night’s late conference matchup at No. 14 N.C. State (4-1, 0-1 ACC), the answer is yes.
Redshirt senior Robert Cooper and Fabien Lovett have anchored the tackle spots while transfer Jared Verse and a combination of Derrick McLendon II, Dennis Briggs Jr. and Leonard Warner III have stepped up at the ends. But injuries to Lovett and Verse have forced the Seminoles to rely on younger talent.