3 individual Matchups to watch in the FSU vs LSU week one game

Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson vs. Darian “Duce” Chestnut

Welcome to LSU, Darian “Duce” Chestnut. Congratulations on becoming the starting cornerback for the Tigers. Your reward is that you get to take on two of the best wide receivers in college football right out of the gate.

Chestnut, a Junior transfer from Syracuse, looks to be the next in line of highly touted cornerbacks to come out of LSU.

Because he is a Junior, there is no guarantee he will enter the draft at the end of the season. What could help his decision is how well he performs in his first game with his new team. It will be a significant test for the young cornerback when he works against Johnny Wilson and Keon Coleman.

Both Florida State football pass catchers made ESPN’s top 100 players list. Wilson landed at 61, and Coleman came in at 86. A solid performance from Chestnut against two potential first-round receivers will put him on the NFL scouting map. And he will need an excellent game for the LSU secondary to have a chance against Wilson and Coleman.

Chestnut is familiar with playing FSU. He has had some success against them.

However, the FSU duo will present a unique challenge for LSU’s secondary.

Wilson’s catch radius is outstanding. He is a big-bodied receiver who makes difficult, contested catches look easy. Wilson is difficult to bring down once the ball is in his hands. The powerful receiver often leaves smaller defensive backs hanging on for dear life. What he lacks in top-end speed, he makes up for with his large frame, strong hands, ball skills, and enormous catch radius.

While Chestnut had some success against FSU when he was with Syracuse, Wilson got the better of the LSU corner a time or two.

Wilson finished last season with 43 receptions, 897 yards, and five touchdowns. He is now ranked as the 29th-best overall prospect by PFF.

The other receiver Chestnut and the LSU defense must contend with is Michigan State transfer Keon Coleman. The Michigan State transfer amassed 58 receptions, 798 yards, and seven touchdowns for the Spartans last season.

While not as physically imposing as Wilson (not many receivers are), Coleman, at 6’4, 215 pounds, will still tower over many cornerbacks he faces.

Chestnut is listed at 5’11, 205 pounds. Both Coleman and Wilson will present a height mismatch for the corner. He must play well against both star wideouts. In doing so, his draft stock could soar. If not, it could be a long evening for Chestnut and the LSU secondary.

It should be an incredible game on Sunday, September 3rd. Part of the reason why it will be intriguing is due to some of the individual contests we get to watch.