Florida State football fans have watched the Seminoles offense evolve over the years from a running back-led offense, to a spread-style offense. What hasn't changed is the need for dominant offensive line to block regardless of the Noles' offense schemes.

The Seminoles are losing all five starting offensive linemen from last year's team. While the offensive line did improve from 2024 to 2025, the Noles are back at square one in trying to put together an offensive line for 2025 and beyond. 

With star players like transfer quarterback Ashton Daniels and returning All-ACC receiver Duce Robinson, the Seminoles will have a chance to score points if they can protect up front.

Daniels is a dynamic quarterback who has thrown for over 4,700 yards during his time at Auburn and Stanford. He also had 1,401 rushing yards and 33 total touchdowns during those four years. 

Robinson is a former five-star receiver who transferred in from USC prior to last season. In 2025 Robinson had over 1,000 yards receiving with six touchdowns. 

This year Florida State went deep in the transfer portal to get immediate help on the offensive line.

Here is a look at the five new players FSU expects will provide the level of play needed to compete for an ACC title (and beyond).

The former Auburn Tiger is truly a giant at 6-foot-8 and 354 pounds. The left tackle started 12 games for the Tigers in 2025. He graded out at 90 percent or higher in five games last year. Prior to going to Auburn, Chaplin started 12 games at left tackle for Virginia Tech in 2024. In 2023 Chaplin was a third-team All American, and started 13 games for VA Tech. The former ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week is known as an excellent run blocker. The redshirt senior has a streak of starting 37 games in a row heading into this upcoming season.

Joiner was the top-ranked high-school center in the state of Alabama in 2023. While a redshirt freshman at Auburn, Joiner was named to the SEC All Freshman Team. In 2025, Joiner transferred to Purdue, where he started 12 games for the Boilermakers. The new Seminole gave up just one sack last year on 792 snaps, and he can play both center and guard. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

The former three-star recruit was the first true freshman in history to ever start at center for Troy. Bowling started in 12 games for the Trojans, playing both center and guard in 2025, and he has three years of eligibility remaining. 

The graduate transfer comes to the Noles with one year remaining to show NFL scouts what he can do. While at Bowling Green, Pabst played both tackle positions as well as right guard. The All-Mid-American Conference player has started the last 38 games for the Falcons. Pabst is 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, and only gave up one sack in 2025.

Nwaiwu was the highest-rated offensive tackle in the Southland Conference in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-5, 305-pounder started all 14 games for Stephen F. Austin in 2025. After allowing just one sack in 2025, the all-conference lineman will look to compete immediately for the right-tackle position at FSU.

Seminoles coach Mike Norvell will spend spring ball and fall camp trying to find the right combination of guys to lead this offensive line. It’s expected the five linemen from the transfer portal will be strong contenders for playing time given their experience.

If Norvell wants to see his star quarterback and star receiver take the team far this year, he’ll need to figure out who the starting five guys are going to be upfront. We should know more about the depth chart once Florida State finishes with spring practice on April 16.

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