Natalie Pierre

Tallahassee Democrat

Sometimes they feel like the forgotten unit on Florida State's defense.

But the Seminoles' young linebacking corps is planning to change that early on this season.

Over the last couple weeks, Jimbo Fisher has repeatedly praised the inexperienced group for the progress they made throughout fall camp.

"As a linebacking corps, we've got to put our names on the map," junior Reggie Northrup said, "because we don't really have that much of a name."

With defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. earning preseason All-American honors, along with defensive backs Jalen Ramsey, P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby, the linebackers do not feel as though they get nearly the amount of attention or respect as some of the other defensive players that surround them.

Of course, that is in part because junior Terrance Smith is the lone returning starter at the position.

"Seeing how people feel about our linebackers corps, we've got a chip on our shoulder," said Northrup, who will make his first career start Saturday in the Seminoles' season-opener against Oklahoma State. "We've got something to prove. You hear good reviews about all the other units on the defense, except for the linebackers. That's a big thing and our coach [linebackers coach Bill Miller], he's hard on us to make sure that we're fundamentally sound so we can execute and make a name for ourselves."

Over the last week the Jacksonville native has been able to make a name for himself.

During the last week of fall camp, Fisher said on multiple occasions that Smith and sophomore E.J. Levenberry had established themselves as the team's two most consistent inside linebackers.

But after four days of game prep of Oklahoma State, Northrup was able to beat out Levenberry for the starting spot at middle linebacker.

"They'll both be playing and rotating consistently," Fisher said. "It's like having two co-starters there."

Northrup says his improved consistency over the last few days was in part motivated by hearing that Levenberry was pulling ahead of him.

But just like he was able to earn a starting spot, the First Coast product knows he can just as easily lose his job, because the guy behind him is just that good.

"I just know I have to work hard," he said. "(Levenberry's) gonna have a big year, too. We're just competing and that's what we do here at Florida State."

Fisher added: "That's one of the good things about playing on a team with good players. The level of competition and your execution and development is that much greater because you know there is someone behind you challenging you."

LB depth a non-issue

The battle for the starting middle linebacker spot at one point also included sophomore Ukeme Eligwe and redshirt freshman Matthew Thomas, but both are currently nursing injuries.

Eligwe is expected to miss the Seminoles' first two games of the season as he recovers from a foot (Lisfranc) injury.

Thomas, who was receiving positive reviews throughout camp, did not make FSU's two-deep depth chart that was released on Monday. Fisher says that is because of an ankle injury that he suffered during the final week of fall camp.

"He's got an ankle screwed up right now," the fifth-year head coach said. "Got to heal that ankle. Hopefully he'll get better though. He was having a really good camp. But it's swollen, banged and bruised."

Freshman linebacker Delvin Purifoy will be out for the season, Fisher announced on Tuesday.

The consensus four-star recruit dislocated his ankle and will require surgery.

"It's very similar to what (former FSU defensive tackle) Jacobbi (McDaniel) did when he had an ankle injury," Fisher said. "It's a shame. He was doing a good job."

McDaniel suffered a dislocated ankle and a broken fibula during the Seminoles' 2011 season and was sidelined for more than a season and a half as a result.

Even with little experience at the position and multiple guys out with injuries, Fisher says linebacker depth is a non-issue for his program.

"We've got guys. We've got plenty of guys in there that are doing a good job," Fisher said. "We're still in good shape."