Florida State has some issues at linebacker.
Florida State struggled through 2014 with injuries at the linebacker position. So far, things don't look much better for the 2015 group. Reggie Northrup tore his ACL in the Rose Bowl loss to Oregon, Kain Daub transferred to a junior college, E.J. Levenberry transferred to UConn, and Tuesday, Jimbo Fisher revealed that Matthew Thomas' most recent shoulder surgery is going to keep him out much longer than previously expected.
Fisher said at his Booster tour stop in Tampa Tuesday that Matthew Thomas will be out 3-4 months with his latest shoulder surgery and will likely play half the season. This is almost double the timeline that Thomas recently tweeted (see photo, right).
Florida State's linebacker situation is precarious. Senior Terrance Smith is the most experienced player, but battled knee, turf toe and elbow injuries and missed much of spring. He is expected to be back for the season. Northrup is no guarantee to be back and effective for the season. Red-shirt sophomore Ro'Derrick Hoskins is unproven and has not flashed. Delvin Purifoy has battled injuries and needs to get in game shape after missing the entire year with a lower leg/foot injury.
JUCO transfer Lorenzo Phillips projected as an edge rusher, but Fisher said Tuesday that FSU will use him as a MIKE linebacker, a move that is uncertain to work with Phillips only having a handful of weeks on campus before the season begins. Freshman linebacker Sh'Mar Kilby-Lane of Hallandale (Fla.) joins the Seminoles this summer as well.
In response to the dire straits at the position, safety Tyrell Lyons has now moved to linebacker permanently, according to team sources.
If there is a saving grace, it is that FSU typically bases out of a nickel set, using only two linebackers at a time, and rarely plays a true 4-3 alignment.