Florida State's linebackers coach Randy Shannon has different plans for his linebacking corp this season.

The night before the Seminoles play their scrimmage, Shannon told the local reporters that his group is expected to learn different linebacker positions. This is different from last year when he wanted them to stick to one position.

“We have a good rotation right now," Shannon said. "Guys are getting comfortable with each other. The one thing we cannot do is stereotype anybody into thinking, 'Hey, this is the position you're going to play.'"

Shannon wants to maximize each player's abilities. He recalled his time in the NFL and how teams viewed their linebackers, whether they were starters, versatile rotational players, or on special teams.

He expects to play his best guys, which played a part in why he wants his linebackers to be versatile this season.

"We're not going to limit anybody on learning and process,” Shannon said. "We just got to play the best guys. That's why you have to know multiple and make sure you use guys at different positions.”

'He is a big guy, but athletic': Randy Shannon likes what he sees in Cam Riley

Auburn transfer Cam Riley has been impressive throughout camp. Shannon is well aware and is excited to compete for the starting linebacker job next to returning starter DJ Lundy.

"He’s a big guy but athletic," Shannon described Riley. "He's not just a pure run-stopper. He's a guy who can catch, he can come off the edge and can do a lot of good things for us. So we're excited to have him on the team.”

Before enrolling at FSU, Riley played his four seasons at Auburn. In 46 games played, he recorded 121 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups.

With his experience of different schemes, Shannon expects Riley to make an immediate impact no matter what play he is being thrown at.

"Anybody who comes to Florida State has to be ready to go. It's not a deal where, uh well, you know, let's take our time. No, we're going to throw him to the wolves," Shannon said.

"I mean, he's been going with the ones. He's been going with the twos, and we're going to feed him to him because that's the one thing when a veteran guy, you got to feed him everything."

FSU LB Justin Cryer believes playing at the Orange Bowl is 'valuable to me'

Sophomore linebacker Justin Cryer is well in tune with what Shannon expects from him. He has taken the challenge of mastering three different linebacker positions after only focusing on one.

"That was the thing this year, at least in the spring, and I'm having to start to figure it out a little bit," Cryer said.

"Obviously, we have the younger guys now who are getting the ‘you play this one spot you learn it', and now we're playing off of them, so that's been something I've been working on."

Shannon has high hopes for Cryer following his freshman year where he played in 13 games and registered 12 tackles. Shannon values what Cryer brings to the table as he mentioned his baseball background back in high school in his home state of Texas. His brother LJ also plays linebacker, but for the Houston Cougars.

“The mentality of being physical and tough, you can do a lot of good things with him,” Shannon said about Crier.

Cryer played his best game against Georgia in the Capital One Orange Bowl last season. He recorded six tackles, which was his season-best. The blowout loss to the Bulldogs devastated him, but in hindsight, it made him a better player.

“I was really hurt by it," Cryer recalled.

"But that experience — I look back on it now — was very valuable to me because I got the chance to play against some guys who are in the NFL. Some guys are like top guys in there, so it was something that, looking back on it now, is really valuable for me.”

As FSU's defense returns seven starters and is active in the transfer portal, the Seminoles are expected to have another big year defensively.

With the strength on the defensive line and secondary being the primary focus, the linebacker positions seem to be overshadowed. Cryer is not concerned, as he addressed that criticism.

"It's kind of tough to deal with, but at the same time, it's not in our control,” Cryer said.

"Coaches all the time say it's all about us, and we can't really worry about that. So I kind of the big preacher in the room as far as people say it's not our problem. It’s not for us to deal with. We just have to go out there and play. Just prove people wrong.”

Florida State football schedule 2024

• Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at noon., ESPN

• Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN

• Sept. 14 vs. Memphis

• Sept. 21 vs. California

• Sept. 28 at SMU

• Oct. 5 vs. Clemson

• Oct. 18 at Duke

• Oct. 26 at (U) Miami

• Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina

• Nov. 9 at Notre Dame

• Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern

• Nov. 30: Florida

• Dec. 7: ACC Championship

BOLD = ACC

* = Neutral Site

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU coach Randy Shannon expects linebackers to know multiple roles