Tomahawk Nation - 2021 Florida State Seminoles football: Schedule, position previews, depth chartFlorida State Seminoles football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and athletics updateshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49409/tn-logo-fv.png2021-09-05T01:00:00-04:00http://www.tomahawknation.com/rss/stream/223745152021-09-05T01:00:00-04:002021-09-05T01:00:00-04:00Player Profile: On McKenzie Milton’s path to FSU
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<img alt="Cincinnati v Central Florida" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/t5fh1RBl4ehs5y4uXVc9yVNMPA4=/1095x0:2784x1126/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68896492/1229718171.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>From Mililani to Tallahassee, the Seminoles’ newest quarterback looks to take advantage of a second chapter</p> <p id="P8ZRUv">As a teenager growing up and playing football in Mililani, Hawaii, McKenzie Milton was being anointed as the next great gunslinger from the Aloha State as early as his junior year. Fans latched on to the electric playmaker who in his sophomore and junior seasons led the Mililani High Trojans to the state title game, winning it all in 2014.</p>
<p id="mvUtAw">He was entrusted with the ability to call plays on his own starting that year, a privilege that carried over into his senior year.</p>
<p id="vXps4z">“My sophomore year, I couldn’t read a defense even if it was a picture book,” Milton said in a <a href="https://usatodayhss.com/2015/mckenzie-milton-may-be-the-next-great-hawaii-qb-with-those-initials">2015 interview</a>. “Last year, I realized watching films are a big part of being a quarterback. This part is continuing the same thing. You have to be smarter than the defense and know what is going to be open.”</p>
<p id="ezWgg1">That senior year, however, was when Milton got his first taste of dealing with a long-term injury. He missed six games in the middle of the season with a separated shoulder, returning to lead his team to a win in the first round of the playoffs. The next week, against a Tua Tagovailoa-quarterbacked team, Milton was knocked out of the game after a hit reaggravated his shoulder, spending the final half of his high school career on the sideline in a sling.</p>
<p id="YZAmYQ">“I think (the injury) made me a better young man, a better leader, a better person,” Milton said in a <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/tua-tagovailoa-mckenzie-milton-hawaii-quarterbacks-success-alabama-ucf-championship/tgip6hbzkkwn1tgr3nnwr5zwn">separate 2015 interview</a>. “It sucks that it happened, but I think that had to happen for my career to blossom like it has.”</p>
<p id="40NT2q">He finished his career with 7,303 passing yards, 81 passing touchdowns, 1,810 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns — his only offers coming from UCF, Hawaii (his original commitment before switching to the Knights), and the service academies (Navy, Army and Air Force.)</p>
<div id="5uSyn9"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZkVzlPfqllg?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; clipboard-write; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="63vUVt">
<p id="BXIL4A">At UCF, as the first quarterback to commit and sign under new head coach Scott Frost, Milton earned the starting role as a true freshman, snagging the position in week three of the season and never looking back as the Knights amassed a 6-7 record just a year removed from going 0-12. He set a freshman record for completions, along with 1983 yards passing and 10 touchdowns.</p>
<aside id="7I2PBH"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"The Triple Option: What does McKenzie Milton bring to FSU?","url":"https://www.tomahawknation.com/2021/1/5/22214920/watch-breakdown-video-transfer-qb-mckenzie-milton-quarterback-portal-film-analysis-norvell"}]}'></div></aside><p id="0qL00V">Just as his sophomore year experience in high school begat his junior year success, the lessons learned from a hard-fought six-win season helped manifest into a Heisman-worthy season for Milton in 2017, as UCF blazed through its schedule to put up an undefeated regular season just two years removed from not winning a single game.</p>
<p id="bzrqZS">A brief summary of accolades that season:</p>
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<p id="fsHHDe">American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year</p>
<p id="ViZlLG">Selected to The American All-Conference First Team</p>
<p id="IxX96D">Finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting• </p>
<p id="7E5GrG">Finalist for the Manning National Quarterback of the Year Award</p>
<p id="HaJCTm">Semifinalist for Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Year</p>
<p id="XUordw">Also a Maxwell National Player of the Year Award semifinalist</p>
<p id="Y723Er">Broke the program record for passing yards in a season with 4,037 yards through the air</p>
<p id="RqjkMy">Also set a new school record with 37 passing touchdowns</p>
<p id="WSGP4h">Passing efficiency of 179.29 set a new single-season program record•</p>
<p id="8xN84J">Had seven 300-yard passing games, tying Daunte Culpepper and Ryan Schneider for the school record</p>
<p id="E3yMsp">Recorded two 400-yard passing games, also tied for the most in school history</p>
<p id="2wbXfA">Threw for 15.2 yards per completion, which ranks third in a single-season in program history</p>
<p id="c7sopw">Also recorded 10.2 passing yards per attempt, which easily set a new school record, besting Blake Bortles’ 9.4 in 2013</p>
<p id="obzump">Ran for 613 yards, a new single-season record for a UCF quarterback</p>
<p id="UJ2mUT">Topped the single-season record for total offense with 4,650</p>
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<p id="KZlyiv">His junior season at UCF seemed like a platform to replicate the success seen in the year previous — once again, Milton was lighting up the stat sheets and scoreboards as the Knights racked up the wins. </p>
<p id="pbrCgU">Against rival USF in the season finale, Milton suffered a catastrophic leg injury, nearly losing it as he was rushed to a Tampa hospital. </p>
<p id="puUD8S">From a 2019 piece that Milton <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/26549900/ucf-qb-mckenzie-milton-journey-own-words-got-hurt-reason">authored on ESPN</a>:</p>
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<p id="X4lmgY">I took one look at it for a split second, and I put my head back down, thinking, “Wow, this doesn’t really feel real.” I knew it was bad, but I didn’t really feel too much pain, I guess from the adrenaline and shock.</p>
<p id="92GmCW">We got in the locker room, and they checked for a pulse again. There was no pulse in the leg, so we knew that was an issue. Blood flow was not getting to the bottom of my leg.</p>
<p id="8NvgBx">The mere violence of the hit caused the ligaments to tear and the knee to dislocate and tore the artery and stretched the nerve. Sometimes, the nerve can rip. If it does, you’re not going to have feeling in your leg the rest of your life. If it stretches, the nerve heals gradually over time, about a millimeter a day, which is not a lot at all. If you have no function in the nerve, you have to cut off your leg because it’ll just sag. It’ll swell up.</p>
<p id="j8pznS">The prognosis: You may never play again. You may be able to play again. We don’t know.</p>
<p id="5iAogm">It’s tough hearing that, but I didn’t cry or anything. I said, “Forget that. I believe I’m going to play again.” I really do.</p>
<p id="yJS6wK">It probably won’t be this season, but I don’t think that would be fair to put a set date on it. I don’t want to disappoint myself. I’m trying to have mini goals. I want to be an even better player, and I think I can be. I’m going to be better as a teammate. I’m going to be better as a leader. That’s where it starts. That will make the guys around me better.</p>
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<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="0DIoGi">
<p id="PJR0Jj">Milton did make that progress, advancing to the point where in 2020, he ran the scout team offense for UCF, being a veteran voice for current starter Dillion Gabriel, himself a former Miliani Trojan. It was a year of relief for Milton, who made sure to share clips of himself moving about freely at practice, but one that also weighed on his mind. As he got to the point where he felt comfortable enough to once again head under pocket, he began to realize that it wouldn’t be in Orlando.</p>
<div id="pI6Hcy"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g7xf1lnBC5g?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; clipboard-write; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="kWaceH">“I’m trying to think of it more logically than emotionally,” he said at the time. “I bleed black and gold and it’s where my heart is, but this is D.G.’s team now. I feel like the torch has been passed.”</p>
<p id="rbBxeu">Milton entered the transfer portal and instantly, the <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com">Florida State Seminoles</a> and the gunslinger were connected, almost willed into existence by a fanbase desperate for consistency at quarterback. As it turned out, the connection was a legitimate one, coming from the respect that Milton had for Mike Norvell as both a coach and a human. </p>
<p id="KQzFsP">In 2017, after Milton’s injury, he received a present in the form of a football signed by every member of the Memphis Tiger’s football team, Norvell’s then-program. Memphis and UCF had faced off in a multitude of high profile games, with AAC title implications involved in just about all of them. For Norvell to make that gesture, a week before <em>playing</em> UCF, was something that resonated with Milton at one of his lowest points.</p>
<p id="m8wXUH">“Just doing something like that when I was down bad and they were our opponent the upcoming week after I got hurt,” Milton said. “Him and his whole team, they signed a ball as a gesture of respect, I guess, for the battles.”</p>
<p id="KMX5VI">“I knew what he was about as a coach and his program. He ran a great program at Memphis. I’m confident that he’ll have a similar if not better success here at <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/">Florida State</a> in just creating a winning culture.”</p>
<p id="qV7et5">“Going against him, you know, I had a lot of respect for him, just for who he was, the way he went about his business, in all aspects,” Norvell said in an interview with <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/1/26/22249967/cfb-acc-mike-norvell-ucf-sec-milton-mckenzie-moore-interview-jarquez-jammie-keir-season-schedule"><em>Tomahawk Nation</em> earlier this year</a>. “We’d played against him, I think, was three times, up until that point, and the week prior to the championship games, when he got injured, my heart went out to them.</p>
<p id="Ya4jNx">“We wanted to him to know that we’re with them, even though we’re competitors on the field, you know, we believed in him and who he was. It was a sign of respect from our program and, and players, coaches, everybody involved just for the person and the player that he is.”</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="4wf476">
<p id="8hIPF3">Seven years after that Hawaii state title game victory, four years after quarterbacking an undefeated team that at least technically can claim a national title, McKenzie Milton sits in Tallahassee, prepping for his first run at a starting role since his freshman season in Orlando.</p>
<p id="zAV67B">This spring will be his first since the injury that nearly cost him his leg, and he enters it as the sole new face in the quarterback room. Each other player around him all have at least one game of starting experience in Mike Norvell’s offense — Jordan Travis last year showcasing his then-untapped athletic potential especially — and so, accolades aside, he’s the outsider.</p>
<p id="eE7Grt">In his career, Milton has navigated high and low expectations, bounced back from failure, learned from success, and taken each bit of his journey in stride. Now, on the precipice of returning to the field that he’s longed for since a November day in 2018, it’s time to take all of that experience and put it into action.</p>
<aside id="cYDAbR"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data="{"stories":[{"title":"Tomahawk Nation Presents the Triple Option | Previewing FSU's Quarterback Position for Spring 2021","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ihLobzt_tM"}]}"></div></aside>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/3/2/22308213/mckenzie-milton-cfb-ucf-scott-frost-norvell-tallahassee-acc-injury-spring-roster-depth-stats-milianiPerry Kostidakis2021-08-26T10:27:22-04:002021-08-26T10:27:22-04:00Watch, listen: The Triple Option’s FSU DB Preview
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/trHrFPVOsHoTm_ue12x2iFg0lTo=/150x0:1770x1080/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69778461/DB_thumb_png.0.png" />
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<p>Nickel or dime?</p> <p id="Pb83hl">Welcome everybody (Adam says in his best Trey voice) to The Triple Option position preview series. In the attached videos you will find our thoughts and depth chart projections. These videos are to support the amazing work already done in the written projections by our talented group of writers. There are some differences but that is the fun part of positional previews.</p>
<p id="aW1NHR">The defensive back room presents a lot of options and they are going to need them all. Expect to see five or six DB’s on the field the majority of the game. It makes sense that FSU used a number of transfer slots on this room and worked hard to bolster the depth. That depth is going to come in handy against the spread teams on the schedule.</p>
<div id="XMR8CZ"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GBvNK_QYdrM?rel=0&start=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture;"></iframe></div></div>
<div id="D4V9Lp"><div style="max-width: 765px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 102px; position: relative;"><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tomahawknation/embed/episodes/FSU-Defensive-Back-Preview-2021-Travis-Jay--Jammie-Robinson--Brendan-Gant--Akeem-Dent--Brownlee-e16g91t" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div></div>
<p id="IcNuMG">Be sure to check out the entire Triple Option positional preview series. Please be sure to like and subscribe to the XsandNoles YouTube channel and also give 5 star reviews on the <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/FSU_Podcast">Everything Noles podcast channel</a>. </p>
<p id="D5pafD"></p>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/8/26/22642382/watch-listen-the-triple-options-florida-state-defensive-back-mike-norvell-travis-jay-brownleeCoachAB2021-08-16T09:00:00-04:002021-08-16T09:00:00-04:00Watch, listen: The Triple Option’s FSU DL Preview
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HajroSvF23lpuLdsdaF8LNGuDMo=/100x0:1180x720/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69730768/DL_Thumb_2.0.png" />
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<p>Strength or weakness?</p> <p id="KDziki">Welcome everybody (Adam says in his best Trey voice) to The Triple Option position preview series. In the attached videos you will find our thoughts and depth chart projections. These videos are to support the amazing work already done in the written projections by our talented group of writers. There are some differences but that is the fun part of positional previews.</p>
<p id="3EVd3S">The defensive line is one that has long been considered a strength but was a serious letdown in 2020. Insert three transfers (two from the SEC) and the future looks bright again. Potentially a shift in scheme focus also could play a role in improved play for the front. Defensive line coaches John Papuchis and Odell Haggins have a big task ahead of them if the 2021 defense is going to make a leap.</p>
<div id="RdnrO1"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aOjLhs9v8fw?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="VD6BCU">The rest of this series will be rolling out as we work our way through fall camp and push closer to the season. Please be sure to like and subscribe to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6yCZXabzBP_HUfEl8L7BaA">XsandNoles</a> YouTube channel and also give 5-star reviews on the <a href="https://anchor.fm/tomahawknation">Everything Noles</a> podcast channel.</p>
<div id="Ij3NCz"><div style="max-width: 765px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 102px; position: relative;"><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tomahawknation/embed/episodes/FSU-Defensive-Line-Preview-2021-Jermaine-Johnson--Keir-Thomas--Fabien-Lovett--Robert-Cooper-e160idc" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div></div>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/8/16/22626822/watch-listen-triple-option-analysis-florida-state-football-mike-norvell-odell-haggins-defense-fullerCoachABKevinLittle16Trey Rowland2021-08-10T09:29:43-04:002021-08-10T09:29:43-04:00Watch, listen: The Triple Option’s FSU OL Preview
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HtX1ZQD12HWcUyWV0h3_5BcNoMo=/100x0:1180x720/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69703828/OL_thumb.0.jpg" />
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<p>Strength or weakness</p> <p id="1bNj9t">Welcome everybody (Adam says in his best Trey voice) to The Triple Option position preview series. In the attached videos you will find our thoughts and depth chart projections. These videos are to support the amazing work already done in the written projections by our talented group of writers. There are some differences but that is the fun part of positional previews.</p>
<p id="jxSmJ9">The weakness of this program for years now is becoming a strength? We are going to find out when the 2021 season kicks off against <a href="https://www.onefootdown.com">Notre Dame</a>. The <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/7/8/22566047/lineman-position-starting-depth-offensive-line-football-mike-norvell-alex-atkins-orr-taylor-dontae">FSU offensive line</a> has to continue to trend in the right direction for this program to get back to where it wants to be. OL coach Alex Atkins has been a miracle worker on and off the field so he must continue his magic act. There is plenty of production returning for Atkins to work with and now they must develop the chemistry to make it work.</p>
<div id="tAo6BL"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PtSbRLO68Vc?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="Yw6VwR">The rest of this series will be rolling out as we work our way through fall camp and push closer to the season. Please be sure to like and subscribe to the XsandNoles YouTube channel and also give 5-star reviews on the Everything Noles podcast channel.</p>
<div id="t2Q9Wj"><div style="max-width: 765px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 102px; position: relative;"><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tomahawknation/embed/episodes/FSU-Offensive-Line-Preview-2021-Dontae-Lucas--Devontay-Love-Taylor--Maurice-Smith--Dillon-Gibbons-e15ngub" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div></div>
<p id="bgeusD"> </p>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/8/10/22617749/triple-option-florida-state-football-offense-alex-atkins-mike-norvell-offensive-line-film-analysisCoachABKevinLittle16Trey Rowland2021-08-07T09:00:00-04:002021-08-07T09:00:00-04:00Watch, listen: The Triple Option’s FSU WR, TE Preview
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cmRJFwEg-oDT6Y3XkXIhcQ7H5iU=/150x0:1770x1080/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69692724/WR_thumb_png.0.png" />
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<p>Strength or weakness?</p> <p id="I1HFyH">Welcome everybody (Adam says in his best Trey voice) to The Triple Option position preview series. In the attached videos you will find our thoughts and depth chart projections. These videos are to support the amazing work already done in the written projections by our talented group of writers. There are some differences but that is the fun part of positional previews.</p>
<aside id="jXDdRC"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Written Preview: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends","url":"https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/7/15/22572637/position-preview-wide-receivers-tight-ends-roster-update-transfer-portal-analysis-offense-schedule"}]}'></div></aside><p id="1QRxDZ">The wide receiver and tight end positions have a lot of bodies but do they have a difference maker? That is to be determined but there are some names that are intriguing for the upcoming season. First, and foremost, Kansas transfer Andrew Parchment will look to become a true number one wide receiver. At tight end a name to watch is the veteran Camren McDonald. Take a minute and watch the video to learn the rest of our thoughts.</p>
<div id="5PxKeL"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9hOpWSbqgFY?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture;"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="aI2MET">The rest of this series will be rolling out as we work our way through fall camp and push closer to the season. Please be sure to like and subscribe to the XsandNoles YouTube channel and also give 5 star reviews on the Everything Noles podcast channel. </p>
<div id="Vl0qsa"><div style="max-width: 765px;"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 102px; position: relative;"><iframe src="https://anchor.fm/tomahawknation/embed/episodes/FSU-Wide-Receiver-Preview-2021-Andrew-Parchment--Pokie-Wilson--Keyshawn-Helton--Malik-McClain-e15ju0q" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media;"></iframe></div></div></div>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/8/7/22613925/wide-receiver-tight-end-mike-norvell-florida-state-football-ron-dugans-film-analysis-offense-passingCoachABKevinLittle16Trey Rowland2021-08-05T11:07:46-04:002021-08-05T11:07:46-04:00Watch, listen: The Triple Option’s FSU RB Preview
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-Kl_8NG4sDLdK62mfgn6nbNNc9E=/150x0:1770x1080/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69682932/RB_Thumb.0.jpg" />
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<p>A position by committee</p> <p id="mU1KRT">Welcome everybody to The Triple Option position preview series. In the attached videos you will find our thoughts and depth chart projections. These videos are to support the <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/3/1/22302744/cfb-acc-season-schedule-depth-roster-projected-chart-runnging-back-norvell-sheffield-toafili-corbin">amazing work</a> already done in the written projections by our talented group of writers. There are some differences but that is the fun part of positional previews.</p>
<p id="P2JF9s">There may not be a position on the field that <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/">Florida State</a> head coach Mike Norvell has seen more success with than running backs.</p>
<p id="W7Iexv">There is a lot of variety to the way that he uses the running backs (or tailbacks) and many different faces that he can interchange in those roles. If you have trouble keeping up with the names or just need a refresher for FSU’s upcoming season, join the guys at the Triple Option as they discuss the depth chart and show some film highlighting what you might expect from this position group.</p>
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<p id="1rJOOg">The rest of this series will be rolling out as we work our way through fall camp and push closer to the season. Please be sure to like and subscribe to the XsandNoles YouTube channel and also give 5-star reviews on the Everything Noles podcast channel.</p>
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https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/8/5/22610974/watch-listen-triple-option-rb-preview-runningback-jashaun-corbin-mike-norvell-analysis-film-depthKevinLittle16CoachABTrey Rowland2021-08-05T07:00:00-04:002021-08-05T07:00:00-04:00Schedule Preview: Boston College Eagles
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Florida State at Boston College" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4dnVcsz6_6lRL764fIdqqAvzXng=/0x0:5472x3648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69681910/usa_today_13643589.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A brief rivalry reprise to take on BC</p> <p id="g6Of8r"><em>As we get closer and closer to the start of the 2021 </em><a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com"><em>Florida State Seminoles</em></a><em> football season, Tomahawk Nation is breaking down each opponent the Noles will face over the course of the year.</em></p>
<p id="HsG8Q1"><em><strong>Opponent:</strong></em> <a href="https://www.bcinterruption.com">Boston College Eagles</a></p>
<p id="JwIZrj"><em><strong>Date:</strong></em> Saturday, November 20</p>
<p id="WVE2NW"><em><strong>Time:</strong></em> TBD</p>
<p id="BcWMIJ"><em><strong>Last matchup:</strong></em> 38-31, FSU (2019)</p>
<p id="ETZXjh">After facing off every year from 2005 to 2019, <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/">Florida State</a> and Boston College didn’t play in 2020 due to the ACC’s revised pandemic scheduling.</p>
<p id="kvGGfe">The Eagles scratched and clawed their way to a 6-5 record, with its 40-14 loss to <a href="https://www.gobblercountry.com/">Virginia Tech</a> early in the year being its only true blowout loss. It’s last year’s performance that has the expectations high in Chestnut Hill, with the ACC media recently picking Boston College to <a href="https://www.bcinterruption.com/2021/7/26/22594213/boston-college-football-picked-to-finish-3rd-in-atlantic-division-in-new-acc-preseason-poll-texas">finish third in the Atlantic</a>.</p>
<h3 id="0QYFTs">Offense</h3>
<p id="akmy79">Not exactly the forte of the Steve Addazio “dudes being dudes” era, BC’s offense should be the strength of the team in 2021 with wide receiver Zay Flowers, offensive guard Zion Johnson and center Alec Lindstrom all earning All-ACC Preseason honors, with Flowers and quarterback Phil Jurkovec also receiving votes for Preseason ACC Player of the Year.</p>
<p id="pDJ66G">Flowers (933 total yards, 10 total touchdowns) leads a deep group of receivers, who will be fed by Jurkovec (2558 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, five interceptions). All five starters return along the offensive line, establishing a strong unit with experience. </p>
<p id="EweCSK">The main concern? Possibly running backs.</p>
<p id="5lgg7N">From our SB Nation sister site <a href="https://www.bcinterruption.com/2021/7/8/22565687/running-backs-preview-for-2021-boston-college-football-rb-travis-levy-patrick-garwo-david-bailey-acc"><em>BC Interrupted</em></a><em>: </em></p>
<blockquote><p id="P34U5o">The biggest question for this position group is: Who will be the goal-line and short-yardage back? [Travis Levy] isn’t much of a bruiser at 198lbs and has been better suited where he can use his speed and agility, including returning kicks. [Patrick Garwo III] has that much thicker build you’d look for in a goal-line back, but he’s a bit undersized at 5’9” as was mentioned earlier and may struggle in the role David Bailey and AJ Dillon were so successful at. Don’t count him out for that role, but I wouldn’t bet on it for him. Looking at the rest of the position group, it’s unclear who else could do it...</p></blockquote>
<h3 id="C7DG1r">Defense</h3>
<p id="C07XYO">And here comes the tradeoff for the uptick in offensive prowess — a defense that faltered in 2020 and may continue to in 2021. Our friends at <em>BC Interrupted </em>expect a dip in a defense that already had its struggles last season, though the defensive backfield should be the strength as new coach Jeff Hafley has emphasized it in recruiting. </p>
<p id="Vgpwx6">“On defense, we have to get off the field on third down,” Hafley said at the ACC Kickoff media event. “And we have to play better in the red zone. With really a limited spring football and limited training camp, we were really vanilla. I think you’re going to see some new things on defense that are going to help us do that. We’re going to eliminate explosives, we’re going to play better on third down, we’re going to get better in the red zone, especially in that low red zone area.”</p>
<h3 id="EuUL3R">Florida State vs. Boston College Final Thoughts</h3>
<p id="3vP4fj">Late in the year, this game is going to likely be crucial for FSU’s chances at ending the season successfully. If the Seminoles find themselves at five wins heading into the final three-game stretch of the season, winning this game is going to be their best shot at hitting the postseason. It’s going to be a challenge facing off against a team that in 2020 experienced similar conditions, challenges, and weaknesses as FSU and still managed to reel off six wins, but winning these type of games are going to be crucial to the Norvell tenure.</p>
https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/8/5/22562348/schedule-preview-boston-college-eagles-bc-norvell-time-date-stadium-breakdown-milton-travisPerry Kostidakis2021-08-03T09:00:00-04:002021-08-03T09:00:00-04:00Schedule Preview: Miami (FL) Hurricanes
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<figcaption>Sun Sentinel</figcaption>
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<p>Has FSU’s similar use of the portal bridged the gap between the two programs?</p> <p id="GHlMvJ">It wasn’t that long ago the <a href="https://www.stateoftheu.com">Miami Hurricanes</a> found themselves in a somewhat similar situation to where <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/">Florida State</a> is now. To be fair they never dropped to a three-win season, but they did look like they were stuck in mediocrity. To jumpstart a resurgence, head coach Manny Diaz hit the transfer portal, snagging the biggest talent in Houston quarterback D’Eriq King as well as edge rushers like Jaelan Phillips and Quincy Roche.</p>
<p id="jQuA1Z">The ‘Canes started 8-1 last season, including a 52-10 win over FSU, before dropping their last two games to finish 8-3. Miami went 3-1 in one-score games, which is pretty good luck that may see some regression to the mean this season.</p>
<h3 id="z5MDMZ">Miami Offense - Long Live the King</h3>
<p id="Kyk2B0">The offense goes as D’Eriq King goes. He’s essentially a top 15 passer and perhaps the best rushing quarterback in college football right now as he enters his last season of collegiate eligibility. King is excellent at extending plays and knowing when to keep his eyes downfield for the pass and when to tuck the ball and run. </p>
<p id="tNQMaB">Having such an explosive weapon as King provides tremendous value in several ways. It changes the numbers advantage in favor of Miami meaning defenses have to play 11 on 11 instead of 11 on 10. King is capable of shredding man coverage with his legs, so it can make defenses somewhat more predictable by forcing more zone coverage. Whatever coverage they decide to play, teams are forced to account for King. However, King is likely more athletic than whoever is sent to spy on him. A linebacker isn’t enough, implying an extra defensive back. But then you have to be careful that you’re too light to stop the run.</p>
<p id="AOID4k">Miami likes to make heavy use of their tight ends, and they lost star Brevin Jordan to the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL Draft</a> earlier this year. In his place will step the solid Will Mallory who was their fifth-leading receiver last year.</p>
<p id="6kuEPS">Fortunately for the ‘Canes, leading receiver Mike Harley returns for his last season in Coral Gables. Harley doesn’t have great size at 5’11” but he’s an all-around very good receiver who excels in space (and near the sideline) and Miami does a good job getting him the ball where he can make things happen. They love using him on slants, screens, curls, outs and corner routes.</p>
<p id="XsoXuU">With the loss of Jordan, Diaz hit the transfer portal again and secured the services of Charleston Rambo, who had a great 2019 season with the <a href="https://www.crimsonandcreammachine.com">Oklahoma Sooners</a>. If Rambo can return to his 2019 form for the ‘Canes, Miami should have the makings of a great passing attack. To round out that group they also return their third and fourth leading receivers from last season in Mark Pope and Dee Wiggins. The two combined for 114 yards on 8 catches against the Seminoles last season.</p>
<p id="7dnCSS">Miami has a very solid stable of running backs with Cam’ron Harris, Donald Chaney, and Jaylan Knighton. The weakness of their offense, if there is one, is their offensive line. The good news is they return all five starters from last year with a record 190 combined starts. The bad news is that group didn’t get a lot of push in the running game last year and their pass protection was below average, even with a QB like King. However, King did a great job getting the ball out quickly to help mitigate some of that. There’s also some good depth here, so does their OL take a step forward this season?</p>
<h3 id="DJAWu8">Miami Defense — Can You Replace That Much Talent?</h3>
<p id="pV8shJ">What will Miami’s defensive line look like this season? Who will step up? Gone are talented edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Greg Rousseau who were both taken in the first round of April’s NFL Draft. Phillips led Miami with eight sacks last season while Rousseau sat out because of Covid-19. They also lost their second-leading sack artist in Quincy Roche, who was drafted in the sixth round.</p>
<p id="uttsYD">There’s talent and depth along the defensive line, but no clear replacement for the departed trio. The best of the bunch is likely Nesta Jade Silvera. They also have Jonathan Ford, and at edge rusher transfer Deandre Johnson and converted linebacker Zach McCloud. </p>
<p id="TStvEo">As for Miami’s secondary, they were below average last season. However, they had a bit of bad luck with injuries and attrition, but there’s no hiding that corners DJ Ivey and Te’Cory Couch struggled. There’s plenty of talent returning for what should be an improved unit, as long as the defensive line doesn’t hang them out to dry. </p>
<p id="ojqrNr">Just like Georgia defensive end transfer Jermaine Johnson instantly became FSU’s best pass rusher, Georgia defensive back transfer Tyrique Stevenson instantly becomes Miami’s best cornerback. Stevenson was a very highly rated recruit of the 2019 class. That leaves Ivey and a now-healthy Al Blades, Jr. to fight for the other cornerback spot. </p>
<p id="07B61g">Safeties Bubba Bolden and Amari Carter are solid, but they were counting on contributions from the best recruit of their 2020 class, safety Avantae Williams, before Williams was recently dismissed from the team. Bolden is likely Miami’s best defender and has a chance to develop into an elite player this season.</p>
<h3 id="FiHWRK">Miami vs. Florida State Final Thoughts</h3>
<p id="lWlpo8">Going into the 2005 season Miami held a seemingly insurmountable nine-game all-time series lead over the Seminoles. After a 10-2 run from ‘05 to ‘16 FSU had closed the gap to 31-30. Another thing Miami fans have held over FSU fans was this close to slipping away. Unfortunately, Florida State has dropped the last four games as the bottom of their program fell out, including last season’s 52-10 annihilation. </p>
<p id="e6KkEq">It’s annoying.</p>
<p id="wfNqC5">FSU was losing last year 38-3 at halftime. Has FSU really closed that much of a gap in one year? If Manny Diaz could use the transfer portal to raise the floor and ceiling of his program, why can’t Mike Norvell do the same? FSU is just a couple seasons behind Miami in trying it, snagging their own QB in McKenzie Milton and edge rushers in Johnson and Marcus Cushnie. We already know it worked for the ‘Canes, more or less. We have yet to see the actual on-field results for FSU, though FSU’s starting talent looks better across most of the board while their depth remains painfully shallow in spots. Miami should be better in some positions than they were last year while worse in others. </p>
<p id="epOdbO">Hopefully FSU and Miami meeting this year in November instead of September will fall in favor of the ’Noles as Norvell continues to rebuild this program. Still, it’s hard to pencil in a win for FSU at this time, though it’s reasonable to expect Norvell’s squad to be much more competitive. In a rivalry game like this, and where FSU’s team is currently at, that’s all you can ask for.</p>
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https://www.tomahawknation.com/florida-state-football-fsu-seminoles/2021/8/3/22562347/schedule-preview-miami-hurricanes-um-norvell-time-date-stadium-breakdown-milton-travisJon Marchant