FSU Football: Depth concerns linger after Amir Rasul and Naseir Upshur departures

(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

The FSU football roster is shrinking by the day. Running back Amir Rasul and tight end Naseir Upshur are the latest to leave the Seminoles’ program

A down season is slowly turning into a downturn for a Florida State football team which seems continually caught off guard. The Noles have a problem at the quarterback position and could find themselves with trouble at other positions too. Depth is becoming a problem in Tallahassee.

Although not on the same plane as dismissed quarterback Deondre Francois, Warchant.com reports running back Amir Rasul and tight end Naseir Upshur are no longer with the team.

Rasul saw limited action behind Jacques Patrick and Cam Akers, but was expected to see more of the field after Patrick’s departure to the NFL Draft. Upshur was a reserve player as well, catching just four passes in 2018.

On the surface, neither of these players poses much of an immediate loss for Florida State on the field in 2019. While that much is true, the continued attrition of an already thin roster poses a problem for head coach Willie Taggart and his staff, especially on offense.

Florida State signed the No. 18 recruiting class in February. Only one of their nine 4-star signees plays on the offensive side of the ball, guard Dontae Lucas. The highest rated skill position player, wide receiver Maurice Goolsby, is listed as the No. 55 ranked player in the state of Florida and the No. 457 ranked player in the nation.

Roster churn happens at every college football program, but the process only works if commensurate talent replaces the departing pieces. Florida State is dangerously close to watching their star players age out of eligibility with few distinguishable playmakers waiting in the wings.