Florida State football, recruiting news: Will FSU surpass projected 9.5 wins in 2017?

Football

Sports Illustrated began unveiling its list of the top 100 current college football players and two FSU players find themselves between Nos. 100 and 91.

99. Cam Akers, RB, Florida State

Florida State is one of the few programs that could lose one of the nation’s best players at a position (Dalvin Cook) and not suffer a huge dropoff in production. It helps when you bring in arguably the nation’s top recruit at that position. (Alabama’s Najee Harris has a strong case, too.) Akers is a 5’11”, 213-pound quarterback-convert who can both run through would-be tacklers and gallop away from them for big gains. The true freshman won’t be carrying the Seminoles’ rushing load by himself, but he should thrive as a change-of-pace option next to junior Jacques Patrick.

91. Deondre Francois, QB, Florida State

Francois led all freshman quarterbacks with 3,350 passing yards in 2016, bursting onto the scene in the season opener with 419 yards through the air in the Seminoles’ frantic comeback win over Ole Miss. He will be expected to improve his accuracy in his second year as the starter, but he should continue to make an impact with his legs after scoring five rushing touchdowns in 2016. After stumbling against the best defenses on Florida State’s schedule a year ago, Francois will be asked to go toe-to-toe with dual-threat counterparts Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson in the two toughest games on Florida State’s schedule.

David Hale of ESPN took to his Facebook page to share an interesting stat about Florida State’s rush defense in 2016.

CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson has faith in FSU to surpass its projected win/loss total.

Florida State -- 9.5 (Over): Where is your confidence with Deondre Francois? That is probably the key question when projecting Florida State's success in 2017, because the Seminoles should be favored in at least 10 games, in large part due to an elite defensive unit led by both established stars (Derwin James, Tarvarus McFadden) and soon-to-be household names like 6-foot-1, 312-pound nose guard Derrick Nnadi. It's a group that could win the ACC Atlantic with a game manager, but I'm of the mindset that Francois will show significant improvement and while beating Alabama seems unlikely right now, the idea FSU could win the next 11 isn't that far-fetched.

Recruiting

FSU target Warren Thompson, a 2018 four-star wide receiver, shocked some with his commitment to Oregon on Monday.

Alumni

With the NBA draft just two days away, final mock drafts are beginning to trickle in. Draft Express has Jonathan Isaac staying in-state as a top-ten pick while Dwayne Bacon is one of the final picks of the draft.

SB Nation’s latest mock agrees about Isaac ending up in Orlando.

With more on Isaac, Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation put together a very complimentary feature on Isaac, calling him a “"superstar waiting to bloom.”

Former FSU QB and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Jameis Winston may have finally relieved himself of his squinting problem as he has decided to try contacts.

Other Sports

The FSU baseball team stayed alive in the College World Series on Monday, sweating out a close win over Cal State Fullerton.