Florida State Football: Can Cam Akers bounce back in 2019?

Cam Akers had a rocky sophomore year for Florida State football, but can the former blue-chipper bounce back in 2019 as a Heisman candidate?

Sophomore slumps are real — just ask Cam Akers.

After rushing for over 1,000 yards on 5.3 per carry as a freshman in 2017, Akers had to adjust to an entirely new coaching staff which means a new playbook and that led to a rough second season in Tallahassee.

Some might blame Willie Taggart for the regression, but it had a lot to do with confidence based on not living up to high expectations and setting the bar far too high as a freshman.

Any time a first-year back rushes for over 1,000 yards, the fans just expect that each season after, finishing off with a near 2,000-yard season as juniors or seniors. That’s not always the case and Akers killed himself trying to live up to those expectations.

When you come to college as a five-star running back and No. 3 player in the nation, people assume you’re going to adjust easily and average over 1,000-yards per season. Akers has the talent, but just needs to avoid the noise coming from social media, negative fans and even opposing fans and players and he should be back to normal.

Confidence and health are the two big roadblocks standing between Akers and another 1,000-yard season with Heisman contention.

Can he bounce back? Absolutely, but Florida State’s offensive line is another barrier. It needs to improve tenfold in order for him to even have a shot and if it does, the confidence and health will follow suit.

Florida State should be an improved team this season and if Akers can approach that 1,000-yard plateau yet again and average over 5.0 yards per carry, we will be talking about him as an All-ACC selection.

This is a crucial junior season for Akers and he needs to shut out the noise and just do what he does best: dominate with the ball in his hands.