The Early Read: Is Jacobbi McDaniel Looking at a Redshirt Season?

Good morning! Here's something to start the day with...

Jimbo Fisher surprised me a little bit yesterday when he mentioned senior defensive tackle Jacobbi McDaniel. Last October McDaniel suffered a serious season-ending injury when he dislocated his ankle against Duke. 

Just over nine months later McDaniel is still fighting back from that injury as the Seminoles start camp.

"Jacobbi should be back out there at about 60, 65, 70 percent," said Fisher. "We'll see how he recovers from that injury."

That was not what stuck out to me though, it was later when Fisher didn't exactly downplay the notion that Florida State could redshirt the senior defensive tackle if he's not ready for the season. 

"Well we'll play it by ear from a physical standpoint because he does have redshirt year," said Fisher. "That's something for him, one he's an outstanding guy, he's an outstanding leader. He's a good player, I think he has a chance to be an NFL player. So we'll see where he's at and what his status is at that time."

Fortunately the Seminoles have the luxury of being able to redshirt an experienced senior defensive tackle, they have ridiculous depth along their D-Line. Whereas other schools may be forced to hope McDaniel gets healthy at some point in the season, Florida State just added an extremely talented crop of freshman defensive linemen to a line that ranked amongst the best in the nation last year and returns everyone from that unit. 

Defensive ends Mario Edwards, the consensus top prospect and Chris Casher arrived this summer along with mammoth tackles Eddie Goldman and Justin Shanks. All four should make an early impact and push returning players for reps in the rotation. 

If McDaniel is not healthy he's going to end up buried on the depth chart anyway.

It's hardly anything concrete, a lot will happen before the September 1st opener to decide who plays in the rotation at D-Line and whether McDaniel is healthy enough for the season, but there does seem to be some credence behind the idea of redshirting him if necessary, based on coach Fisher's comments yesterday.

We'll have to see how it all plays out, but you would really have to feel bad for McDaniel if his ankle injury ends up costing him not one, but two seasons. 

I'll have more for you later today after player availability and practice.

 

Follow @PatrikNohe_MH