Projecting FSU football's defensive depth chart for Boise State

Florida State is two weeks away from opening its 2019 football season in Jacksonville against Boise State.

The Seminoles have gone through two weeks of practice so far in preparation for the season, including three practices at IMG Academy in Bradenton.

So what will the Seminoles look like on Aug. 31 against the Broncos?

It's still to early to completely tell, but here is how the defensive depth chart projects two weeks out.

*Note: The depth chart includes defensive tackle Marvin Wilson and edge rusher Josh Kaindoh. FSU coach Willie Taggart has said that both could be back by the opening game.

Defensive end

Starter: Junior Marvin Wilson

Backup: Redshirt freshman Dennis Briggs Jr.

Marvin Wilson has missed the last week of fall practice with a minor knee injury, but he is expected to return soon. How soon Wilson will return is still up in the air.

Wilson is the best player on FSU's defense and arguable the roster. He started at defensive tackle last season in the 4-3 defense, but will move to defensive end in the 3-4 this season. Getting him back for the opening game will be a major boost to the FSU defense.

Briggs Jr. will be the first defensive end off the bench at either position. He's had a very good fall camp by all accounts and has filled in well for Wilson while he's been out. Briggs Jr. will be heavily involved in the rotation this fall.

Nose tackle

Starter: Sophomore Robert Cooper

Backup: Redshirt junior Cedric Wood

Cooper was made to play the nose tackle position. He's listed at 6-foot-1, 346 pounds and uses his size, strength, and ability to play with leverage to move offensive linemen off the ball.

With Cooper lining up straight over the top of the center, he's going to command double teams this season if the opposing offensive coordinator doesn't want his pocket collapsed. 

Wood has been one of the surprises of fall camp with how well he's performed after coming back from a significant hand injury. He should see playing time this season as the direct backup to Cooper.

Defensive end

Starter: Redshirt sophomore Cory Durden

Backup: Redshirt freshman Jamarcus Chatman

Durden was one of the more pleasant surprises that FSU had in 2018. He played a key role as a backup at defensive tackle, and was slated to start opposite Wilson at defensive tackle before the Seminoles moved to the 3-4.

Durden was exceptional at getting into the backfield and disrupting plays when he was on the field, and FSU will count on him to do that again this year, just from a little further down the line than he was last season.

There may not be a player that benefited more from the move to the 3-4 than Chatman. He was a tweener in the 4-3 defense. Too big to play defensive end, but not big enough to play defensive tackle. He fits in very well as a 3-4 defensive end with his size.

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Edge

Starter: Junior Josh Kaindoh 

Backup: Redshirt junior Janarius Robinson

Robinson and Kaindoh are interchangeable at this point as both adjust to their new position in the FSU defense. Kaindoh and Robinson were the likely starters at defensive end in the 4-3, but with the move to the 3-4, they're now competing for the same position on the edge.  

Kaindoh has barely practiced during fall camp, but Taggart has said that he is being brought along slowly so he's ready to play against Boise State. Robinson has practiced and has shown improvement when it comes to being asked to drop back in coverage.

Inside linebacker

Starter: Senior Dontavious Jackson

Backup: Redshirt junior Emmett Rice

Jackson is a returning starter at middle linebacker and should fit in well in the move to the 3-4. He's at his best when he's coming downhill to stop the run, which he will be asked to do frequently. He's the unquestioned leader of the linebacker unit and the vocal leader of the defense.

Rice is back healthy after missing most of last season while recovering from an ACL injury he suffered against Southern Miss in the Independence Bowl to end the 2017 season. 

Inside linebacker

Starter: Sophomore Jaiden Lars-Woodbey

Backup: Redshirt sophomore DeCalon Brooks

Lars-Woodbey played the star linebacker position as a true freshman in 2018, but was moved to safety in the spring. He wasn't able to practice after having shoulder surgery during the off-season, and was moved back to linebacker during fall camp.

Lars-Woodbey and Brooks have been battling for the starting inside linebacker position during fall practice. Brooks was running with the first team for most of the first two weeks of camp, but Lars-Woodbey has moved next to Jackson during position drills with Brooks lining up next to Rice.

Edge

Starter: Junior Leonard Warner

Backup: Redshirt freshman Amari Gainer

Warner and Gainer were both linebackers in the 4-3 defense, but both are being asked to play off the edge in the new defense. It's a good fit for both player's skill sets, but especially for Gainer.

Warner played middle linebacker in 2018 and has the size necessary to set the edge at 241 pounds. He's earned a lot of praise from edge coach Mark Snyder during fall camp.

Gainer played the star position in 2018, but redshirted after playing in four games. Gainer played on the edge in high school and is right at home in the new system. He's still undersized at 215 pounds, but is a natural at dropping into coverage. How he holds up against the run will determine how much he plays this season. 

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Boundary cornerback

Starter: Junior Stanford Samuels III

Backup: Freshman Akeem Dent 

Samuels III is back at cornerback full time and is the unquestioned starter at the position. He's the team leader in interceptions with six over his first two years at FSU and is arguably the most talented player in the FSU secondary.

Dent played safety in the spring after early enrolling, but has been playing cornerback during fall camp, which is the position he was recruited for. Dent is going to play this season, but he's going to be behind Samuels III.

Boundary safety

Starter: Junior Hamsah Nasirildeen

Backup: Junior Cyrus Fagan

Nasirildeen led the team in tackles in 2018 (91), but was moved from safety to linebacker in the spring. He was moved back to safety for fall practice and is back in a starting role again this season. 

Fagan had a rough 2018 season, but has performed well during fall camp. He's being pushed by a couple of freshmen (Brendan Gant and Raymond Woodie III) but has been working with the second team during the media viewing period of practice.

Field safety

Starter: Senior Levonta Taylor

Backup: Redshirt junior Carlos Becker

Taylor moved to safety in the spring and it has been a natural fit for him. The position allows him to showcase his instincts, athletic ability, speed, and ball skills. He's cemented himself as the starter at this position.

Becker has been injured for most of his FSU career, but it looks like he's finally ready to make an impact. Becker was working with the first team during practice while FSU was at IMG Academy, though it didn't look like Taylor was working out that day.

He's got great size and exceptional athletic ability, but he just hasn't been able to stay on the field.

Field cornerback

Starter: Sophomore Asante Samuel Jr.

Backup: Senior Kyle Meyers

Samuel Jr. moved into the starting role as a true freshman in 2018 and has this position locked down heading into the 2019 season. He's been exceptional during fall camp and has backed up his trash talking with his play on the field.

Meyers is doing his best to hold off some really talented younger players behind him like true freshman Travis Jay, but that's going to be a fight all season long. The cornerback position at FSU is one of the most competitive on the roster.

Punt returner

Starter: Junior D.J. Matthews

Backup: Sophomore Keyshawn Helton

Matthews finished seventh in college football last year averaging 13.5 yards per punt return. He's expected to start again in that role this season. Helton has also been returning punts during practice, among others like Jay, but this is Matthews’ job.

Kickoff returner

Starter: Sophomore Anthony Grant

Starter: Sophomore Keyshawn Helton

FSU has not worked on kickoffs during the media viewing periods at practice, but Grant and Helton both returned kickoffs in 2018 and return for the 2019 season.

Reach Wayne McGahee III at wmcgahee@tallahassee.com.

Florida State vs. Boise State

When: Aug. 31, 7 p.m.

Where: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL

TV/Radio: ESPN/103.1 FM