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Florida State Football: 5 reasons why Seminoles will win 2017 national title

By Erich Hilkert

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles warms up prior to their Capitol One Orange Bowl game against the Michigan Wolverines at Sun Life Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles warms up prior to their Capitol One Orange Bowl game against the Michigan Wolverines at Sun Life Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – SEPTEMBER 05: Matthew Thomas #6 of the Florida State Seminoles tackles Chad Kelly #10 of the Mississippi Rebels in the first half during the Camping World Kickoff at Camping World Stadium on September 5, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – SEPTEMBER 05: Matthew Thomas #6 of the Florida State Seminoles tackles Chad Kelly #10 of the Mississippi Rebels in the first half during the Camping World Kickoff at Camping World Stadium on September 5, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

4. Experience at LB

Heading into the 2016 season, Florida State had two major questions: 1) How would quarterback Deondre Francois perform as a freshman and 2) How would the inexperienced linebacker unit hold up?

Going into 2017, four linebackers made at least eight starts last season and the position, like quarterback, has suddenly become one of the team’s strongest areas.

Matthew Thomas led the team with 77 tackles in 2016. Thomas also led the team with 10 tackles for a loss. Josh Sweat was third on the team with seven sacks. With DeAndre Walker gone, the Seminoles need Sweat and defensive end Brian Burns to step up and replace some of Walker’s productivity. Jacob Pugh, who finished 2016 with 4.5 sacks, is also part of the linebackers unit.

Rounding out the group is Ro’Derrick Hoskins, who started all games last season. This group took its lumps in 2016, especially while struggling against Louisville’s offense early in the season. However, by the end of the season it looked like a different group of players.

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