FSU Fall Camp Preview: Top position battles

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Fall camp may be just practice, but for several FSU players, it's their chance to jockey for position on the 2013 depth chart. Warchant.com examines the biggest position battles as camp opens next week.

Defensive end

Three NFL defensive ends depart and leave question marks.

Fall camp will be the first chance to see how the depth chart has settled under new defensive ends coach Sal Sunseri. Mario Edwards, a big body who fits the new scheme and picked up starts at the end of 2012, is a safe guess as one starter. The leader at the other spot following spring ball seemed to be Dan Hicks, and he's listed there on the pre-camp depth chart.

While nothing is cemented on the No. 1 chart line, the bigger mystery likely will be who backs those two up and sees significant time in a liberal DE rotation. Redshirt sophomore Giorgio Newberry, early enrollee freshman Demarcus Walker, and redshirt freshman Chris Casher will vie for that duty along with JUCO newcomer Desmond Hollin. They will jockey for position starting next week.

Tight End

Battle is the wrong term with just two scholarship tight ends on the roster. Let's rephrase - what will happen at tight end? We'll learn a lot in fall camp. Obviously Nick O'Leary will be the top option and true freshman Jeremy Kerr will have a chance to contribute as a primary blocker. But from there it's anyone's guess.

Expect to see an array of different looks to assist the lack of depth including extra offensive lineman in heavy formations, fullback Chad Abram lining up on the line of scrimmage in some sets and the possibility of a position change for a scholarship player before camp gets going Tuesday. Don't expect that to be DE-turned TE-back-to-DE Dan Hicks, I think he sticks on defense. No matter what happens, there will be fewer multiple TE sets this fall than Fisher and Co. planned for just months ago - at one point this year FSU was on track to have six healthy scholarship tight ends for the fall.

Punt return

Last year's effort on punt return had FSU fans thirsting for the days of Greg Reid. Rashad Greene and Tyler Hunter took turns wowing - each returned punts for touchdowns - and causing concern as they struggled to get their mitts on the football consistently. By season's end, Kenny Shaw stabilized the return game somewhat.

All that means for 2013 is that the job is up for grabs, and Fisher mentioned the need for improvement with the group during last month's ACC Kickoff. All three of last year's returnees will remain in the mix, but the interesting wildcard is true freshman Kermit Whitfield, who flaunts world class speed. If it's anything like last year, several players will get chances to return punts in fall camp before Fisher settles on a winner.

Cornerback

The polar opposite of the tight end situation, FSU's dilemma at cornerback is having too many capable bodies.

In the end, it's semantics because despite who starts, FSU sports a stellar group of guys fit for corner like Lamarcus Joyner, Nick Waisome, Ronald Darby, CB/S Tyler Hunter , PJ Williams, Keelin Smith and five-star newcomer Jalen Ramsey, an impressive crop for Jeremy Pruitt in his first year as DC. But who will get the first snap each game? Joyner is a lock, and the pre-camp depth chart lists Waisome as the starter on the boundary side with Darby listed as the No. 2 behind Joyner. I'd count on all three being de-facto starters with a ton of nickel (three cornerbacks) while the others file behind as reserves.

Others

Quarterback: Only a competition in Fisher's eyes, but it would take a miracle camp for Jacob Coker to beat out phenom Jameis Winston.

Right Tackle: After a solid spring, Bobby Hart has the clear leg up to win the starting job. It would take a push from a freshman or an injury to shake up the situation on the outside.

Strong side linebacker: It will be Terrance Smith unless one of FSU's talented underclassmen (Reggie Northrup, Markuss Eligwe, Matthew Thomas among others) can make a big move in fall camp. The amount of nickel the new FSU defense plays this year should also limit how much the Sam is on the field.