The 2017 Florida State football team is looking to take back the ACC crown from Clemson, reclaiming the Atlantic division.
Florida State Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois returns looking to have a bit better outcome than the 10-3 finish in 2016. Francois will need to replace playmakers like Dalvin Cook and the offensive line underwent a rebuild in the offseason.
Francois will need to find new weapons in the receiving corps. One name fans could start hearing a lot of is wide receiver Keith Gavin. He saved the day for Florida State last season in their 33-32 Orange Bowl victory. He set up the game-winning drive on a 66-yard kickoff return.
Another player to watch for is true freshman running back Cam Akers. Akers has made a lot of noise despite his short stay so far in Tallahassee. He looks to be a threat of out of the backfield as well as in the kick return game this season.
The return of safety Derwin James looms in 2017 as well. James looked particularly healthy in Florida State’s annual spring game. If he can pick up where he left off, the Seminoles will be a force to be reckoned with.
The Florida State Seminoles also had some other key additions from the 2017 recruiting class that could contribute right away. If the offensive line can hold up, the Seminoles could find themselves in their first College Football Playoff since 2015. A matchup on Sept. 2 with the Alabama Crimson Tide will tell the story.
Offensive Line
Starting tackles: Rick Leonard (RT), Josh Ball (LT)
Backups: Brock Ruble, Jauan Williams
The loss of offensive tackle Roderick Johnson puts a damper on the team’s immediate success. Rick Leonard started six games at the right tackle position last season. He recently converted to defensive end after the 2015 season. Josh Ball looks to be the other starter at left tackle. He did well in the spring to show he belonged.
Brock Ruble is the first backup tackle. He is a redshirt junior who started seven games at right tackle a season ago. Leonard seems to have overtaken the position since Ruble got injured but Ruble could see time in different combinations. Jauan Williams is the other reserve tackle. He is a redshirt freshman who also got a lot of good reps in spring practice.
Starting center: Alec Eberle
Backup: Braveon Johnson
Alec Eberle returns at the starting center position but he was sidelined all spring with an injury. Eberle has made 19 consecutive starts at center, including 13 games in 2016. He looks to be the anchor again in 2017 as he’s featured on the Rimington, Outland and Wuerffel Awards watch lists.
Braveon Johnson was able to get some reps in at the center spot with Eberle recovering from injury. While he may not see time as a starter in 2017, he could get in a lot of reps by season’s end in a reserve role.
Starting guards: Cole Minshew (LG), Landon Dickerson (RG)
Backups: Derrick Kelly, Ethan Frith
Former offensive guard is another starter on the offensive line that will be missed. Rebuilding the left side of the offensive line starts with plugging in Cole Minshew. He started the final three games of the 2016 season. Landon Dickerson will likely make the start at the right guard position after going down last season with a knee injury.
Derrick Kelly is a redshirt junior who made appearances in five games in 2016, starting in two of them. He should be a solid reserve at either guard position. The other reserve offensive guard is likely to be Ethan Frith. Frith has seven games of experience under his belt in the past two seasons.
Defensive Line
Starting tackles: Derrick Nnadi, Demarcus Christmas
Backups: Fredrick Jones, Walvenski Aime’
Derrick Nnadi and Demarcus Christmas return as the starting defensive tackles on the Florida State Seminoles defense. Nnadi and Christmas proved to be a dynamic duo next to each other in the ACC.
Nnadi recorded 49 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks last season. The rising senior is on three different award watch lists entering the preseason (Bednarik, Outland and Nagurski).
Christmas recorded 21 tackles, six pass breakups (most on the d-line) and 2.5 tackles for loss in 13 starts in 2016. He has an opportunity to have one of the stronger front-four in recent memory.
Fredrick Jones and Walvenski Aime’ are set to get looks at the reserve defensive tackle spots. One name to not forget about, however, is defensive tackle Marvin Wilson. He’ll likely push for time as well in fall camp.
Starting ends: Josh Sweat, Brian Burns
Backups: Jalen Wilkerson, Joshua Kaindoh
The loss of DeMarcus Walker at defensive end certainly hurts but there’s still a wealth of talent left on the defensive line. Josh Sweat returns off one edge. The Nagurski Award watch list recipient made 10 starts in 12 appearances last season. His 7.0 sacks ranked third on the team.
Brian Burns is the starter on the opposite edge. The 2016 Freshman All-American led all freshmen last season with 9.5 sacks. The Seminoles finished ranked second in the nation in overall sacks (51.0).
With guys like Jalen Wilkerson and Joshua Kaindoh at the reserve, their defensive line unit can get there again. Wilkerson made three appearances a season ago. Kaindoh is 6-foot-7, 250-pound defensive end prospect with a lot of hype surrounding him. He should see a lot of time on the field next season despite only being a true freshmen.
Linebacker
Starting outside backers: Jacob Pugh (SAM), Matthew Thomas (Will)
Backups: Joshua Brown, Emmett Rice/Adonis Thomas
Jacob Pugh and Matthew Thomas are two linebackers emerging as players to watch on the Florida State Seminoles’ defense. Thomas led the team in tackles last season (77 total) while Pugh is ready to show what he can do entering his senior season. Pugh took home spring MVP honors over Derwin James and Tarvarus McFadden at this past spring game.
Thomas and Pugh have a chance to be a huge strength for the Seminoles linebacking corps this season. Thomas is on both the Bednarik Award and Butkus Award watch lists.
Joshua Brown, Emmett Rice and Adonis Thomas are all sophomores looking to push for playing time at the linebacker position as well. Thomas is the most intriguing prospect as he’s a formerly a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Rice was a standout special teams player a season ago.
Starting Mike linebacker: Ro’Derrick Hoskins
Backup: Dontavious Jackson
Ro’Derrick Hoskins is the third senior linebacker to round out this year’s linebacking group for Florida State. Hoskins started every game last season at the Mike linebacker position. His 53 total tackles ranked fourth on the team.
Related Story: ACC Football: 5 most important non-conference games in 2017
Hoskins backup, Dontavious Jackson, came up big when given the opportuntiy last season. Jackson had 20 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks in eight appearances in 2016. His reserve role could take on a bigger meaning in 2017.
Defensive Back
Starting safeties: Derwin James, Trey Marshall
Backups: Ermon Lane, A.J. Westbrook
The return of Florida State Seminoles safety Derwin James looms. James was off to a fast start in 2016 before a torn meniscus sidelined him for the rest of the season. He enters 2017 healthier than ever and looking to make wreak havoc in the secondary.
Trey Marshall is at the other safety position. Marshall started in 11 games and also is featured in the “Star” role in the nickel formation.
Ermon Lane will serve as one reserve safety. After switching from wide receiver to safety last season, Lane ended up starting five games at safety in 2016. He’ll look to get more reps in this season.
A.J. Westbrook stepped up big last season when James went down with injury last year. He’ll serve as the other backup safety.
Starting cornerbacks: Tarvarus McFadden, Kyle Meyers
Backups: Levonta Taylor, Carlos Becker
At starting cornerback, Tarvarus McFadden returns after snagging eight interceptions a season ago. McFadden led the conference and FBS with his interception total. With James back in the secondary, he’ll certainly be one to watch.
Kyle Meyers, a sophomore, will likely get the starting nod at the other cornerback position. He’ll be in stiff competition with sophomore Levonta Taylor, who we’ll consider the backup for now. Taylor was the top cornerback recruit coming out of high school and was thrown into the fire in his freshman year.
Carlos Becker is likely the other backup cornerback. Becker is an up-and-coming sophomore cornerback who saw action in 10 games last season.
Wide Receiver
Starting receivers: Nyqwan Murray, Auden Tate, Keith Gavin
Backups: Da’Vante Phillips, George Campbell, D.J. Matthews
The Florida State Seminoles wide receiving corps will have a bit of a new look but that shouldn’t be a bad thing. It’s been a while since the Seminoles have had an 1,000-yard receiver on the team (Rashad Greene, 2014).
More from Florida State Seminoles
- College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 3
- Jordan Travis injured just before halftime vs BC, what do we know?
- College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 2
- College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 1
- Biggest winners and losers from College Football Week 1
There’s potential in the trio of Nyqwan Murray, Auden Tate and Keith Gavin. Murray is the team’s top returning target with 27 receptions for 441 receiving yars and five touchdowns. Tate is right behind him with 409 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.
Gavin is the wild card of the group. While his biggest contribution came on special teams, he’s received high praise from coaches entering the season.
The backups may not be backups come October either. Da’Vante Phillips and George Campbell are two names to watch. Campbell has battled through injury to return to the field. Phillips caught four passes for 33 receiving yards last season.
D.J. Matthews is the other reserve to watch at wide receiver. He is a true freshmen.
Running Back
Starting running back: Jacques Patrick
Backups: Cam Akers
The starting running back spot goes to Jacques Patrick, for now. Replacing Dalvin Cook will be hard to do, initially. After all, Cook has run for over 1,500 rushing yards the past three seasons. However, with the stock of running backs the Seminoles have available, the running game shouldn’t fall off too much.
Patrick ran for 350 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He didn’t get many reps behind the ACC’s leading rusher the past two seasons but he’ll be given his chance with starting reps entering 2017. He is currently on the Doak Walker Award watch list, an award annually given to the top running back in the nation.
Parker will have a competitor in true freshman Cam Akers. Akers enrolled early this past January as a member of the Seminoles’ 2017 recruiting class. Outside of Patrick, the Seminoles don’t have much returning in the rushing department. Going three deep at running back isn’t totally out of the question or splitting reps among two backups.
It helps the Florida State Seminoles also added Khalan Laborn, another top running back recruit to their roster as well. Laborn and Akers could see a lot of time when Patrick is out of the game.
Quarterback
Starting quarterback: Deondre Francois
Backup: J.J. Cosentino
Quarterback Deondre Francois will be looking to avoid a sophomore slump in year two as the Florida State Seminoles starting quarterback. The ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and Rookie of the Year will have his work cut out for him early and often this season.
A rebuilt offensive line will make or break Francois’ ceiling for development this season. Early tests against Alabama and Miami in the first three weeks will show how many adjustments have been made.
He threw for 3,350 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns but his 58.8 percent passing completion can use work. Working with a slew of new receivers, Francois will need to show he can produce at a higher level in 2017.
Next: College Football: Top 50 breakout candidates for 2017
At backup, J.J. Cosentino, a redshirt junior, will continue to get reps. He saw action in two games last season (Charleston Southern, Louisville) as a reserve.