The Alabama Crimson Tide are set to take on Florida State in Tallahassee this Saturday. It's almost a brand new roster for the Seminoles, including replacing both coordinators. Alabama fans might not be overly familiar with the opposing team's roster, but a Week 1 depth chart was released by FSU on Monday.
As expected, Boston College transfer Tommy Castellanos is expected to start at quarterback for Florida State. In two seasons as the starter for the Eagles, he completed 288 of 491 pass attempts (58.7%) for 3,689 yards, 33 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. He also added 1,307 yards and 15 scores on the ground.
Former Alabama running back Roydell Williams is expected to start at running back, but it's going to be at least three-headed monster along Oklahoma transfer Gavin Sawchuk, Jaylin Lucas and freshman Ousmane Kromah. We know new Florida State offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn wants to run the football, so this is going to be an important group to monitor on Saturday.
The trio of Duce Robinson (USC transfer), Squirrel White (Tennessee transfer) and true freshman Jayvan Boggs is intriguing. Robinson is the big-bodied X-receiver (6-foot-6, 223 pounds) while White is the shift, ever-elusive slot receiver. Alabama fans should be especially familiar with White, who hauled in 10 catches for 111 yards and a touchdown against the Crimson Tide back in 2023.
Florida State's offensive line has played a lot of football. Granted, that football hasn't been played together, but combined, there's close to 8,700 snaps from this group. Luke Petitbon, a graduate transfer from Wake Forest, is the younger brother of former Alabama and Illinois offensive lineman Richie Petitbon. He's played close to 1,700 snaps in his career. Micah Pettus is an Alabama native who played three years (2022-24) for Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. He appeared in 33 games with 29 starts and 2,154 snaps.
Earl Little II is set to start at the Rover position in Tony White's new 3-3-5 defense. Obviously, Alabama fans are familiar with Little, as he spent his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa. After playing just 21 snaps in two years at Alabama, he played in 10 games on defense with 179 snaps this past season in Tallahassee.
James Williams is a 6-6, 259-pound edge who transferred in from Nebraska after accumulating five sacks in 2024. He's set to play alongside mammoth interior defensive lineman Darrell Jackson, who's a fifth-year senior playing at 6-5, 337 pounds.
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