Know Your Notre Dame Football Enemy: The Florida State Seminoles
By J.P. Scott
The Notre Dame football team will host Florida State in November during the upcoming 2018 season.
We are taking a look at all 12 teams on the 2018 Notre Dame football schedule with the intent of familiarizing you with what the Irish are up against.
Next up: The Florida State Seminoles
2017 Synopsis
Jimbo Fisher’s last season in Tallahassee was nothing short of a rollercoaster in the middle of a three ring circus. The team finished with a 7-6 record, winning its last four games. That said, only one of those four games came against a Power 5 opponent. They lost their starting quarterback during the first game of the season and could never pull it together until it was too late. Fisher left in the offseason and Willie Taggert was hired as the new head coach.
Who did they lose?
The Seminoles saw eight players with starting experience on the defensive side of the ball walk out the door. Defensive back Derwin James, the team’s best defender, was a first-round NFL Draft pick this past April. They also lost defensive linemen Derrick Nnadi and Josh Sweat to the NFL Draft.
On offense, the biggest losses were offensive tackle Rick Leonard and tight end Ryan Izzo.
Who do they return?
Quarterback Deondre Francois is back and healthy, but he’s in a battle for the starting job with James Blackman. It was Blackman who stepped in for Francois last season.
Cam Akers — one of the best running backs in the country — is back. He’ll be running behind an offensive line group with four players who have signifcant starting experience and six players total who have started.
Nyqwan Murray is back at wide receiver, and he’s about as dangerous as they come.
The defensive will be led by defensive end Brian Burns and defensive tackle Marvin Wilson. There will be plenty of new faces at linebacker and secondary. Corner Levonta Taylor is the only player in the back seven with significant starting experience.
Why should Notre Dame be worried?
Despite the losses on defense, the Seminoles have elite athletes and plenty of speed on that side of the ball. The game will take place late enough in the season for that unit to have grown and gelled.
When the seminoles have the ball — regardless of who is under center — they have plenty of weapons who can score from anywhere on the field every time they touch the ball.
Why should Notre Dame not be worried?
This is the third different team Willie Taggert has coached in three years. These are not his players, yet they’ll be asked to execute his run-heavy offense — thus limiting the would-be damage caused by some talented receivers. Notre Dame’s front seven is more than capable of matching up with Florida State’s rushing attack.
When the Irish have the ball, they will have the advantage in both age and experience. Notre Dame knows exactly who they are on offense. They’ll be facing a defensive unit that will not have seen a quarterback as dynamic as Brandon Wimbush. That extra wrinkle is likely to cause more growing pains for a young squad adapting to a new system and coaching staff.
Key Player for Florida State
Cam Akers — He’ll need to find the holes and keep the chains moving for the Seminoles. This could be a low-scoring game, so time of possesion will be key.
Next: Mack And Mustipher On Watch Lists
Key Player for Notre Dame
Alize Mack — The Irish tight end has a chance to have a big game in the national spotlight. His athleticism could be just one more growing pain for the Florida State back seven. If he can consistenly get open for key conversions, it will likely open everything else up in the Notre Dame passing game.