Mike Norvell dipped into the transfer portal to build the Florida State football offensive line for the second straight season, and he thinks the unit has “high potential.”
The Seminoles went big in the portal with 6-foot-8, 346-pound offensive tackle Xavier Chaplin, 6-foot-2, 327-pound center Bradyn Welch-Joiner and versatile 6-foot-7, 315-pound lineman Nate Pabst, among others.
Those three are expected to get starting reps, with Pabst slotting in at guard during FSU’s practice on Friday, July 31, which was briefly open to the media. Alongside him was fellow transfer tackle Chimdia Nwaiwu. It’s a unit that Norvell is confident in as the Seminoles continue through preseason.
“They’ve got a high potential,” Norvell said about the O-Line after the Seminoles’ first practice with shells on.
“Guys that are capable of creating space and moving people. Obviously, the importance of every rep and the work together is huge. I think those guys have done a good job from time in spring, summer, and even the first few days. There were some really good ID’s, guys working in combinations.”
The challenge for the offensive line is to build the trust and communication required for success in the trenches from now to kickoff against New Mexico State on Aug. 29. Norvell said at his annual preseason media luncheon that he feels more confident in this year’s line at this point in the season than he did last year’s group.
Norvell’s confidence is shared by the players, with Welch-Jonier happy with how the unit has gelled. Part of the reason that the group has had to come together so quickly is the Seminoles’ defensive line, which Welch-Jonier said features a unique challenge.
“Our D-line has no drop-off. All of our guys on the interior are twitchy, fast and strong,” Welch-Joiner said. “I feel like Mandrell [Desir] is going to be a first-round draft pick, no brainer. I feel like he’s a guy that gives us a lot of work and we’re not going to see a guy like him in the season. I bet you that.”
Mandrell and his twin brother Darryll Desir are two of the linemen that have challenged the Seminoles’ offensive line, alongside Daniel Lyons, Kevin Wynn and Rylan Kennedy. The offensive line unit is still filling out, with André Otto, Jayden Todd and Paul Bowling among the players competing for starting reps, and grinding against the defensive line.
Those duels in the trenches led to some heated moments on the first day of shells, as expected. Welch-Jonier said he loves the competitiveness and that it will have an overall positive impact on the team.
“I love it. Because we are brothers. Brothers are going to fight. If you have a brother, you’ve fought 10-plus times in your life,” Welch-Jonier said. “That breeds competition as well. We are chipping back and forth. But we know when we step on the field, it’s us versus them, and we know what we are going to do.”
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Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football’s offensive line displaying ‘high potential’ in preseason
Reporting by Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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By Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
