College Football Rankings: Top 25 entering spring games
By Brad Weiss
Florida State Seminoles
2016: 10-3, ACC- Atlantic Division
Make no mistake about it, the Florida State Seminoles are back, and they could be headed towards the College Football Playoff in 2017. Head coach Jimbo Fisher has his best quarterback since Jameis Winston in Deondre Francois, who had a breakout freshman season in 2016. Not only was Francois steady under center, but he proved he could win big games late, bringing the Seminoles back four times during the season.
His last magic act was in the Orange Bowl, where he led a late drive that resulted in the Seminoles beating Michigan, 33-32. While Francois will no doubt be leading the team on offense this season, Florida State does have a hole to fill at running back, as all-time leading rusher Dalvin Cook left for the NFL after his junior season. Jacques Patrick should get the first crack at the job, but watch for freshman Cam Akers, who could be the next big thing in Tallahassee.
On defense, the unit will be lead by cornerback Tavarus McFadden, who led college football in interceptions last season. Up front, the team is going to have to replace DeMarcus Walker, who was not only a sack machine but also the team’s senior leader on defense. Florida State plans to go with Josh Sweat in that role next season, and he has all the talent to be a force along the defensive line.
Derwin Jones will be back from a torn meniscus suffered early last season, giving the Seminoles one of the better defensive secondaries in the country. Some publications have the Seminoles as the best team in the country heading into next season, and we can see why. Replacing Cook and Walker is going to be tough, but with the sixth-best recruiting class coming in, expect Fisher and company to improve on their ten wins from last season.