FSU getting a better feel for OL as spring practice comes to a close

Florida State will not have a firm grasp of its starting offensive line until preseason camp arrives in August. And that's at the earliest.

But as spring practice concludes this week, certain positions are coming into focus.

Rebuilding and fortifying the line is one of the biggest priorities facing the Seminoles over the next four months. Injuries have made it hard for Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff to make a full assessment, but that's not to say there haven't been standouts.

It seems the Seminoles could be in for a three- or four-player battle at center in August. Redshirt freshmen Andrew Boselli and Baveon Johnson have competed for reps while redshirt junior Alec Eberle continues to recover from hip surgery. Eberle, who started all 13 games last season, has missed all of spring camp. Redshirt junior Corey Martinez also is working his way back from minor knee surgery.

Boselli and Johnson were splitting snaps with starting quarterback Deondre Francois throughout most of the spring. That competition came to a premature end last week when it was announced Boselli would miss the rest of spring with a knee injury.

That leaves Johnson as the top center available for the spring game on Saturday.

"He has been OK at times. He plays like a young guy. He is doing some really nice things. He is getting his snaps down," Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher said of Johnson after Saturday's practice. "When he is confident in what he is doing, he does it well. He is learning the steps and techniques and the different blitzes and things that come at him. He is doing a solid job and having a good, solid spring."