No. 1 Alabama’s matchup with No. 3 Florida State has been seen as the premier game heading into the 2017 season. With both teams having storied histories and loads of recent success, this game has everything a college football fan would want in a matchup. Since we at The Crimson White keep our focus on Alabama and the news that occurs within the team, we decided to catch up with Blake Devine, the sports editor for the FSView—The Seminoles’ student newspaper. We asked him about the upcoming matchup and some of its main storylines.
Many people are calling Derwin James one of, if not the best player in the country. How much of an impact can he make on this game?
Blake Devine: Although it’s nearly been an entire calendar year since James last appeared in the regular season, the redshirt sophomore should immediately alter the course of this showdown. Keep in mind, Florida State’s defense limited opponents to 18 points and 337 yards per contest while the star safety played as opposed to surrendering 26 points and 351 yards per game without him. Standing at 6-foot-3 and 211 pounds, James is arguably the most physically talented defensive player in college football. Look for him to prevent deep balls thrown to Calvin Ridley, apply pressure to Jalen Hurts and potentially return punts. This will be a huge stage for James to show off in front of NFL scouts, and I can’t wait to see how he performs.
Deondre Francois and Jalen Hurts were in similar situations last season. Both were young and developed over time. What about those two quarterbacks impresses you, and what is it about both of them that makes them successful?
BD: What impresses me is their seamlessly smooth transition from high school to college football. Both played at extremely high levels and were tremendous under pressure — using their legs to extend and create plays — throughout their entire freshman season. Hurts carries an uncanny ability to roll out of the pocket, which will eventually be a huge factor in his transition to the pro level. Francois is a great passer on the run, yet also displays incredible durability under pressure. While the Seminoles’ offensive line experienced numerous issues in 2016, Francois still played at a high level and continued improving as the season went on. He threw seven touchdowns under pressure compared to Hurts’ four. Francois is also much better than Hurts with long balls (40 percent vs 32 percent completion rate). Both are tremendously talented and at the forefront of a new wave of modern quarterbacks transcending the game.
Cam Akers was once an Alabama commit. How big was it for FSU to flip him, and what kind of an impact can he have in his first season?
BD: Florida State was the best fit for Cam Akers given the status of the position at both programs. It was monumental for Jimbo Fisher to add a weapon such as Akers in the class of 2017. The five-star recruit provides explosiveness at tailback similar to Dalvin Cook. Given that Akers will likely see more playing time than he would have at Alabama under Bo Scarborough, there’s plenty of reason to be excited about his potential for greatness.
What do you think is FSU’s greatest strength in this game, and what is their biggest weakness?
BD: Although Cook is gone, the Seminoles’ greatest strength is their depth at the running back position. After backing up the All-American for two seasons, Jacques Patrick will look for a breakout season while receiving a majority of the carries. Behind him is Akers, who’s one of the most physically gifted true freshman that I’ve ever seen. Also contributing to FSU’s depth is sophomore Amir Rasul along with four-star recruits Khalan Laborn and Zaquandre White.
There’s no question that the Seminoles biggest weakness is their offensive line. Last season, Francois was sacked a whopping 36 times. After losing All-American left tackle Roderick Johnson to the NFL Draft, it’s quite concerning to fathom this unit going head-to-head against Alabama’s front-seven.
Do you think the loser of this game can still make the College Football Playoff?
BD: Depending on how close this contest plays out, a loss wouldn’t devastate either of these squads’ chances at making the College Football Playoff. Other than Alabama, Florida State is set to face four other ranked opponents, including key road games at No. 5 Clemson and No. 17 Florida. If the Seminoles are able to run the table and win the ACC Championship, I see no reason why they shouldn’t be playing on Jan. 1. As for the Crimson Tide, they’ll play three more ranked opponents while competing in arguably the deepest division in football. If Bama finishes 12-1 with a fourth straight SEC Championship, it’s nearly a guarantee that they’ll be within the top-four at the conclusion of the regular season.
Finally, give a score prediction and why you decided on that.
BD: Three of the Tide’s top four pass catchers from last season have been replaced, so expect Hurts to struggle early on against the ’Noles vaunted secondary. By holding up against the run and forcing third-and-longs, Florida State will get Alabama’s offense off the field. If the Seminoles offensive line is able to give Francois sufficient time in the pocket, he’ll be able to efficiently guide his team down the field. In the end, it’ll come down to crunch time and I believe FSU carries the experience and talent to pull-off an opening week upset.
Florida State – 24, Alabama – 21
