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.