After the 2025 season, FSU will lose Bryson Estes, TJ Ferguson, Richie Leonard, Jacob Rizy, Luke Peitbon, Micah Pettus, Adrian Medley and Gunnar Hansen. That is 8 guys who will either start or provide quality depth this upcoming season. This does not include players who may transfer. FSU did bring in Mario Nash, Chastan Brown, Sean Poret and Chavez Thompson in the 2025 class which should help soften the blow of the departures after this season. That is four players you can most likely count on in 2026 along with Jayden Todd, Lucas Simmons, Andre Otto, Manassee Itete, Tye Hylton, Jaylen Early and Jonathan Daniels. That would leave you with only 11 offensive lineman and most teams like to carry 17-20 on the roster at all times. FSU has a commitment with Xavier Payne. They will still need to bring in another 4-5 high school lineman. Below are the top Florida prospects. This year there is some quality depth in the state. What will FSU do?
1) Keenyi Pepe-IMG Academy - 6'6 280 - Pepe looks the part. He is the best looking tackle in the state of Florida. He is also going to be the most expensive. FSU is not really involved with Pepe. He has all the physical tools to not only play on Saturday afternoons but excel. He is big, long and athletic. He moves very well for a big man.
2) Micah Smith-Vero Beach-6'4-290 -Smith is the most realistic option at tackle in Florida. Once again he is not a traditional tackle. More of a guard which brings his NIL number down. This is like the NFL draft. True tackles bring in big money. If you are most likely a guard/center the odds are your value is less. Smith is a kid who can move. He drives guys off the ball. He has pretty good feet. He just lacks the ideal size and length to play outside.
3) Grant Wise - Pace - 6'3-300-Wise is the son of University of Miami offensive lineman Ty Wise. His son will most likely end up at center. He is a smart kid who understands the game of football. Doubt there will be much of a learning curve if at all for Wise. He has started since his freshman year at Pace. He knows how to make his line calls. He understands where the blitzes are coming. He can get his teammates lined up properly. Having a center who knows the game of football is very valuable. I feel Wise can get on the field early in college.
4) JJ Sparks - The Bolles School-6'4-300-I have other guys rated higher mainly because of upside. Sparks is a kid who comes from a school that can coach up their lineman. There is a ceiling for players like Sparks. He is not the biggest or most physical lineman. He does rely on his technique to win most battles. He is probably more ideal for a zone scheme. He is not going to overpower guys. You will see him move a defender out of the way and open a running lane for his backs to run through. I do think FSU has a legit shot at landing Sparks.
5) Cannon Pickett-Tampa Wharton - 6'5-290 - Pickett is the brother of University of Miami player Booker Pickett. I don't know the situation of the two as DJ the cousin went to LSU. Booker could have been a Seminole if they really wanted him. Cannon is a bigger kid. He looks like a tackle. He just moves more like a guard. He reminds me of Josue Matias coming out of high school. Big bodied player. These are the guys FSU needs to land.
6) Johnnie Jones-Berkeley Prep - 6'6-270 - Once again I have Jones rated lower on the board but some guys are not even options. Jones played as a freshman on a state title team. He is big, long and athletic. Raw but you don't recruit these types of kids based on what they look like now. It is all about potential. FSU needs tackles. Wow, I feel like I repeat that every year. Jones is a viable option. Berkeley Prep has never been kind. You would like to see FSU finally break through here.
Other options: Michael Ionata (Calvary Christian), Rhys Woodrow (Boone), Joel Ervin (Ft Myers), Breck Kooljay (IMG Academy)
Final Thoughts: The state of Florida is actually not bad this year for lineman. There are probably 10-15 guys who have legit P4 offers. Coach Hand has thrown a wide net nationally. I expect them to have a very solid OL class in 2026 if the line can show some improvement on the field in 2025. That should not be hard as FSU had one of if not the worst OL in P4 last year.
1) Keenyi Pepe-IMG Academy - 6'6 280 - Pepe looks the part. He is the best looking tackle in the state of Florida. He is also going to be the most expensive. FSU is not really involved with Pepe. He has all the physical tools to not only play on Saturday afternoons but excel. He is big, long and athletic. He moves very well for a big man.
2) Micah Smith-Vero Beach-6'4-290 -Smith is the most realistic option at tackle in Florida. Once again he is not a traditional tackle. More of a guard which brings his NIL number down. This is like the NFL draft. True tackles bring in big money. If you are most likely a guard/center the odds are your value is less. Smith is a kid who can move. He drives guys off the ball. He has pretty good feet. He just lacks the ideal size and length to play outside.
3) Grant Wise - Pace - 6'3-300-Wise is the son of University of Miami offensive lineman Ty Wise. His son will most likely end up at center. He is a smart kid who understands the game of football. Doubt there will be much of a learning curve if at all for Wise. He has started since his freshman year at Pace. He knows how to make his line calls. He understands where the blitzes are coming. He can get his teammates lined up properly. Having a center who knows the game of football is very valuable. I feel Wise can get on the field early in college.
4) JJ Sparks - The Bolles School-6'4-300-I have other guys rated higher mainly because of upside. Sparks is a kid who comes from a school that can coach up their lineman. There is a ceiling for players like Sparks. He is not the biggest or most physical lineman. He does rely on his technique to win most battles. He is probably more ideal for a zone scheme. He is not going to overpower guys. You will see him move a defender out of the way and open a running lane for his backs to run through. I do think FSU has a legit shot at landing Sparks.
5) Cannon Pickett-Tampa Wharton - 6'5-290 - Pickett is the brother of University of Miami player Booker Pickett. I don't know the situation of the two as DJ the cousin went to LSU. Booker could have been a Seminole if they really wanted him. Cannon is a bigger kid. He looks like a tackle. He just moves more like a guard. He reminds me of Josue Matias coming out of high school. Big bodied player. These are the guys FSU needs to land.
6) Johnnie Jones-Berkeley Prep - 6'6-270 - Once again I have Jones rated lower on the board but some guys are not even options. Jones played as a freshman on a state title team. He is big, long and athletic. Raw but you don't recruit these types of kids based on what they look like now. It is all about potential. FSU needs tackles. Wow, I feel like I repeat that every year. Jones is a viable option. Berkeley Prep has never been kind. You would like to see FSU finally break through here.
Other options: Michael Ionata (Calvary Christian), Rhys Woodrow (Boone), Joel Ervin (Ft Myers), Breck Kooljay (IMG Academy)
Final Thoughts: The state of Florida is actually not bad this year for lineman. There are probably 10-15 guys who have legit P4 offers. Coach Hand has thrown a wide net nationally. I expect them to have a very solid OL class in 2026 if the line can show some improvement on the field in 2025. That should not be hard as FSU had one of if not the worst OL in P4 last year.
