How Charlotte OL transfer D'Mitri Emmanuel could start for Florida State football
The countdown to the 2022 Florida State football season is underway.
Mike Norvell's third season atop the Seminoles will be a critical one to his long-term chances in Tallahassee. The roster continues to be shaped more in his desired image as he looks to guide FSU to a bowl for the first time in his tenure.
To begin that look ahead to the upcoming season, it's time for the Democrat's annual list of the 40 most important FSU football players, continuing today with No. 19.
FSU football position preview: A look at the Seminoles' offensive line
More FSU football: Florida State adds to its OL options after landing Charlotte transfer D'Mitri Emmanuel
NoleSports Podcast: Welcome home, Link Jarrett plus an interview with ESPN's David Hale
Our list of the 40 most important FSU football players was compiled on June 9 by aggregating the rankings submitted by beat writers Curt Weiler and Carter Karels. Any players added to the roster after that date were not considered for this list. All ties were broken by discussion.
No. 19: Graduate transfer offensive lineman D'Mitri Emmanuel
D’Mitri Emmanuel transferring to Florida State this offseason meant he reunited with the coach who helped him have a career season at the University of Charlotte.
Seminole offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Alex Atkins served in the same role with the 49ers in 2019. That season marked Emmanuel’s first as a full-time starter and graded as the best of his career, per Pro Football Focus. He posted an overall grade of 69.1, a 76.5 passing grade and surrendered just seven quarterback pressures all season.
Atkins now has the opportunity to coach a much more experienced version of Emmanuel. The sixth-year graduate transfer has started 24 games since his season with Atkins, the most among all FSU offensive linemen. Emmanuel also garnered third team All-Conference USA honors from Phil Steele in 2019 and 2020.
Beyond experience, Emmanuel gives the Seminoles flexibility. As a smaller offensive lineman at 6-foot-2, 300 pounds, Emmanuel projects best on the interior. But he could play other positions if needed. At Charlotte, Emmanuel started at left tackle, right tackle and left guard.
Right guard seems to make the most sense for Emmanuel at FSU. Left tackle Robert Scott Jr. and left guard Dillan Gibbons are expected to be locks as starters, while Kayden Lyles and Maurice Smith are competing for the No. 1 center job. The starters on the right side of the offensive line remain uncertain, and Emmanuel plays a big part in why.
This spring, Darius Washington and Lamar transfer Bless Harris lined up as the starting right guard and right tackle, respectively. The Seminoles could either keep that pairing intact or start Emmanuel at right guard while sliding Washington to the No. 1 right tackle spot.
Emmanuel’s history with Atkins, all-conference recognition and overall experience suggests he could beat out Harris for a starting job. And all of Washington’s 20 career starts have come at left tackle (13) and right tackle (7). So moving him to right tackle could work.
In either case, Emmanuel and the similarly versatile Harris should offer value as a utility backup.
Florida State most important player countdown
No. 40: Defensive tackle Jarrett Jackson
No. 38: Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald
No. 37: Defensive end Patrick Payton
No. 36: Defensive back Sam McCall
No. 35: Defensive back Azareye'h Thomas
No. 34: Wide receiver Ontaria Wilson
No. 33: Wide receiver Ja'Khi Douglas
No. 32: Defensive tackle Malcolm Ray
No. 31: Linebacker Amari Gainer
No. 29: Offensive lineman Maurice Smith
No. 28: Running back Lawrance Toafili
No. 27: Offensive lineman Bless Harris
No. 26: Quarterback Tate Rodemaker
No. 25: Defensive end Dennis Briggs Jr.
No. 24: Wide receiver Johnny Wilson
No. 23: Cornerback Renardo Green
No. 22: Offensive lineman Kayden Lyles
No. 21: Tight end Camren McDonald
No. 20: Wide receiver Malik McClain
Reach Carter Karels at ckarels@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @CarterKarels.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football Most Important Player Countdown: No. 19, D'Mitri Emmanuel
