Football
Jared Shanker of ESPN wrote on what Florida State must do, as well as what might be preventing the Seminoles, from overtaking Clemson in the upcoming season.
X-factor: Remember who didn’t play in the Clemson game last season -- or hardly any games for that matter? Derwin James was sidelined with a knee injury, and the Seminoles were torched down the middle of the field through the air. Jordan Leggett had five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. On the Tigers’ game-winning drive, he had catches of 25, 11 and 34 yards.
James, who might also be the Seminoles’ best pass-rusher, will return to the starting lineup in 2017; there is no doubt about that. Senior Nate Andrews might not be installed as a starter once recovered from a torn pectoral, but at minimum he'll add safety depth and leadership with James. Coverage breakdowns occurred far too often last year, but the situation at safety will look much different this season with Andrews, James, Ermon Lane, Trey Marshall and A.J. Westbrook.
The Las Vegas Superbook has FSU among its favorites to win the 2017 College Football Playoff.
.@CFBPlayoff title odds: Bama 7-2 USC 7-1 FSU, OhSt, OU 8-1 Mich 12-1 Clem, LSU, UL 15-1 Aub, PSU, Tex 20-1 Ga, Wash 30-1 via @LVSuperBook
— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) February 27, 2017
Brendan Sonnone of Noles247 broke down what was so impressive in Rick Leonard’s progression as an offensive lineman throughout the 2016 season.
Cole Cubelic, an Alabama sports radio host and sideline reporter for SEC Network, received some flack on twitter for predicting which games Bama would lose in 2017.
FSU & Mississippi State https://t.co/W8QKg47vSz
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) February 27, 2017
Recruiting
Florida State added a 2019 commit on Monday when defensive end Quashon Fuller announced that he has committed to the Seminoles.
Bud Elliott highlights the top South Florida recruits to watch in the 2018 recruiting class, including a number who Florida State is in contention to land.
Do others have a shot at Dalvin Cook’s little brother?
Miami Central High School five-star running back James Cook, the little brother of Dalvin, was clearly tired of interviews by the time I spoke with him. He said that he is “80 percent” committed to Florida State, and that Miami is pursuing him the hardest. Florida, Georgia, and USC (where cousin Jamel Cook plays safety) are also pursuing. Cook was invited to the Opening Finals, an elite camp taking place later this summer. He said that he is benching 275 pounds and thinks he could hit 300 for a one-rep max. Cook earned an invite to The Opening Finals.
Alumni
Former Florida State running back Dalvin Cook penned a letter doubling both as goodbye and thank you which was published on Seminoles.com Monday. For Cook to make this step nearly two months after he made his decision to forgo his senior season, it’s a testament to how much his time at Florida State meant to him.
Dan Kadar of SB Nation shared his thoughts on what each of the first-round picks in his latest mock draft need to do to impress teams at the upcoming NFL Combine.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
Teams will want to get to know Cook on a personal level more than most prospects because of his past. Cook was found not guilty of misdemeanor battery in 2015.
Other Sports
The Florida State men’s basketball team moved back into the Top 15 of the AP poll ahead of its tough road matchup at Duke on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the FSU baseball team held serve in many major polls this week, staying put as the No. 2 team in Baseball America’s Top 25 poll and coming in as the No. 3 team in D1 Baseball’s poll once again this week. The Seminoles hit the road Tuesday for their first road game of the season at Jacksonville.