Football:
- ESPN’s Jared Shanker broke down new FSU RB Cam Akers as he joins a loaded backfield that includes two other blue chip commits from the 2017 class.
A significant hole exists on Florida State’s roster now that Dalvin Cook is prepping for the NFL. The Seminoles have ESPN 300 running backs on the roster, but Akers could become the team’s lead back beginning Week 1. At minimum, he should see a lot of playing time as coach Jimbo Fisher usually likes to play multiple running backs. Before the 2015 season, Fisher never had a running back at Florida State carry the ball more than 200 times in a season. The nation’s best running back, Akers is already close to the same size as Cook. While he might not match Cook’s speed, Akers has a second gear to pull away from defenders. He’s already on campus and learning the offense, too.
Bucs announce they've signed former FSU long-snapper Dax Dellenbach to futures contract. Could make team with DePaola coming off surgery.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) February 7, 2017
- Does Florida State have one of the hardest 2017 out of conference schedules in the country? ESPN thinks its the third most difficult, right behind UF.
Give the Seminoles their props. They've never been squeamish when it comes to playing a challenging nonconference schedule. A year ago, they opened against Ole Miss in Orlando, also played at South Florida and closed the regular season as they do every year against Florida. In 2017, they open the season against No. 1 Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta, a heavyweight matchup that could serve as a precursor to a clash we could see again later in the year in the College Football Playoff. There's also a season-ending trip to face Florida. Think the Gators are aware that the Seminoles last lost in the Swamp in 2009?
- Alabama OC Steve Sarkisian has left the team and accepted a job with the Atlanta Falcons. The Crimson Tide will have another new face running the offense when it opens the season vs. Florida State.
Recruiting:
- FSU made an offer to four-star LB Dax Hollifield from Shelby (NC) Shelby. Florida State marks the 14th different school to offer the 6’1 220 lb. prospect as Clemson, Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Penn State are just some of those other schools to offer the No. 117 recruit.
Other Sports:
- Florida State men’s basketball (20-4) tips off against NC State (14-10) tonight. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 PM from Tallahassee. You can watch it live on ESPN2 (Yes, FSU actually has a nationally televised home game this time that won’t be blacked out).