Football:
- Will Florida State vs. Alabama be the best game in the 2017 college football season? Athlon Sports has the matchup listed at No. 1 of its early look at next year’s CFB slate. Florida State at Clemson is ranked No. 3 and its home games vs. Louisville and Miami are at No. 12 and No. 15 respectively.
- Could Derwin James be the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner? PFF makes an argument for the rising FSU junior.
The 2016 season had a number of defensive candidates state strong cases for the Heisman, and while the 2017 crops doesn’t have a lot of obvious names from which to choose, James is the kind of defensive player that can make a run at the award. His true freshman season in 2015 was simply exceptional as he played a number of roles in Florida State’s defense, playing deep safety, box safety, and even lining up as a pure edge rusher on some passing downs. He excelled in all phases, ranking among the top 20 safeties in coverage, against the run, and as a pass-rusher. That all-around ability is the proper formula for a defensive player to get early Heisman consideration.
- Oregon’s latest workout sessions have landed three players in the hospital following the grueling practices. What’s the worst you’ve ever felt after a sporting practice?
Recruiting:
- The 247 Composite rankings were updated over the weekend. NOTE: These final composite rankings will shift once ESPN, 247 and Scout file their final list.
- FSU early enrollee RB Cam Akers fell from No. 3 to No. 5 in the nation. Alabama RB Najee Harris rose to the No. 1 overall position.
- Early enrollee DE Joshua Kaindoh rose from No. 17 to No. 15 overall.
- Early enrollee DB Stanford Samuels III fell from No. 20 to No. 29 overall.
All three players listed above are still rated five-star prospects.
- Current FSU commitment RB Khalan Laborn rose from No. 41 to No. 37 overall.
- Current FSU commitment WR D.J. Matthews fell from No. 48 to No. 49 overall.
- Early enrollee DB Cyrus Fagan fell from No. 70 to No. 76 overall.
- Florida State’s current 2017 recruiting class is still ranked No. 5 in the nation and No. 1 in the ACC.
- Florida State target DT target Marvin Wilson fell from No. 3 to No. 4 overall.
- Florida State three-star QB commit James Blackman has shut down his recruiting and will enroll at FSU.
#FSU pic.twitter.com/doNtoiZ3Ah
— James (@jamesblackman15) January 17, 2017