Well,  what a season 2013 was for the Florida State Seminoles and freshman quarterback Jameis Winston.  The ‘Noles won it all for the first time since 1999 and it was more than deserved.  They dominated on both sides of the ball by over-powering opponents with and incredible offense and a savvy defense.

The Auburn Tigers gave them a scare in the National Championship game but when it was all said and done nothing could be done about the Seminoles’ array of offensive weapons.

Top Newcomers

Travis Rudolph, wide receiver: A five-star recruited and ranked by Rivals as the leading wide receiver in the nation,  Rudolph will add great speed to the field and will complement Rashad Greene perfectly.  When Kelvin Benjamin moved onto the NFL it was imperative the ‘Noles found a replacement quickly and,  in Rudolph,  they may have found one immediately.

Dalvin Cook, running back: Cook was, by Rivals, ranked as the 18th best played in the high school nation last year and the third best running back.  After losing two starters to the NFL Florida State will be leaning on Karlos Williams but there will be bonus carries for others to claim.  Cook is playmaker who can beat defenders with speed and power.  Furthermore,  he can catch the ball out of the backfield.

Top Returning Players

Cameron Erving, offensive tackle: Erving is a stud and will only help his draft stock by returning to protect Winston’s blind side.  If you could describe an offensive tackle as a playmaker then Erving would be it.  He can create something out of nothing and before you know it the running back is off on his way to six more points.

Tre’ Jackson, guard: Jackson is a powerful guard who simply dominates from whistle to whistle.  With him in the line-up the whole offensive line can settle and find their rhythm early in games.  Superb technique is complemented by a mean streak which sees defenders beaten before the ball is even snapped.

Positional Breakdown

Quarterback: Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston is the bona fide starter entering his sophomore year.  Absolutely no worries for the Seminoles here as Winston will only get better.

Running Back: Karlos Williams will be the lead back after Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr moved onto the NFL.  Five-star freshman Dalvin Cook is also likely to see some action.

Wide Receiver: 76-catch man Rashad Greene is joined by the aforementioned freshman and a number of part-time starters from 2013.Levonte Whitfield caught just five passes a year ago but could break into the team as a sophomore.

Tight End: Nick O’Leary has improved year-in-year-out and will once again be a great outlet over the middle.  Kevin Haplea and Jeremy Kerr both suffered season-ending knee injuries last Summer and will bring an added blocking presence in 2014.

Offensive Tackle: Erving retuning was a big win for Winston and the running game while Bobby Hart is okay he must improve to keep his place.

Guard: Jackson and Josue Matias are both All-ACC picks and provide a great nasty streak inside that allows the line to dominate.

Center: Austin Barron has five starts under his belt and the job is his as long as he wants it.

Defensive End: Mario Edwards Jr recorded just 3.5 sacks a year ago and those numbers are likely to shoot up as he learns his trade.  Sophomore Chris Casher did not start last year and is likely to see more playing time to improve on his five tackles for a loss and two sacks

Defensive Tackle: Timmy Jernigan will of course be missed but his departure means 2012 recruit Eddie Goldman could be in place for a breakout year.  Nile Lawrence-Stample and Desmond Hollin are likely to rotate at the second tackle spot.

Linebackers: A lot of talent has been removed from the ‘backer corps but Jimbo Fisher and his coaches have plenty of options.  Terrence Smith will start in the middle and E.J. Lavenberry and Ukeme Eligwe both saw playing time as freshman but could be ousted by another sophomore in Matthew Thomas.

Cornerback: Ronald Darby and P.J. Williams are both lockdown corners who helped the Seminoles restrict opponents to 156.6 passing yards per game last year.

Safety: Jalen Ramsey is the real deal at safety with both speed and strength while Nate Andrews led the team with interceptions in ’13 with four.

Special Teams: Roberto Aguayo won the Lou Groza award as a freshman after hitting 21 of 22 field goals.  Punter Cason Beatty struggled with consistency last time around and could be replaced if need be.

Biggest Strengths

The Florida State offense is simply a thing of beauty.  Firstly,  an offensive line fit to block for any college quarterback is book-ended by Greene and potential first round tight-end O’Learly.  Next,  Jameis Winston arrives on campus and plays like a fifth-year senior despite being just a freshman and Karlos Williams makes the transition from safety to running back without a hiccup.  If things could not get any better,  Fisher went out and penned two five-star offensive weapons to keep the ball rolling.  Unbelieveable.

Biggest Weaknesses

If there is such thing as a weakness on such a dominant National Championship side,  then the linebacker position is that for FSU.  It was a position of strength during their run to glory but with graduations the group is somewhat depleted.  90-tackle man and leader Telvin Smith is now with a professional side as is Christian Jones.  Two new starters will be in the fold for their season as reigning champions and,  despite having experience,  there are usually growing pains either big or small when transitioning to full-time starter.

Follow Ricard on Twitter @Richard_Gatenby