Florida State Football: 5 storylines to follow during 2018 spring ball
Former American Heritage (@AH__Athletics) standout Brian Burns had quite the efficient season in Tallahassee, pulling down 30 QB pressures in Year 2 in Garnet & Gold. He finished the season hot, with 20 QB pressures over his final 7 games. pic.twitter.com/oldxu2Wbw9
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) January 1, 2018
5. The Seminoles find their next great pass rusher
The Seminoles have been synonymous with great pass rushers in college football going as far back as Ron Simmons and Peter Boulware and as recent as DeMarcus Walker and Mario Edwards Jr.
However, heading into the spring of 2018, FSU defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett has his work cut out for him on finding a pass rusher. Barnett, who learned his 4-3/4-2-5 hybrid defense under Mark Dantonio at Michigan State, will want a pass rush without having to constantly blitz.
Junior defensive end Brian Burns could be the next great Seminole pass rusher to terrorize ACC quarterbacks. Burns, from American Heritage High School in Florida, had 30 pressures and six sacks in 2017. Burns really came along over the last seven games totaling 20 pressures over that stretch. The former five-star prospect has NFL size at 6-5 and 235 pounds.
Burns bookend on the defensive line will be sophomore Joshua Kaindoh. The former five-star prospect from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., will be asked to live up to his potential as a strong side defensive end. He’s a massive dude at 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds in the mold of NFL Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell.
Between Burns and Kaindoh there is a lot of hype for the next great pass rusher to emerge for the Seminoles this spring.