Better Or Worse: How Each FSU Opponent Projects Next Season (Part III)

As part of our preview looking ahead to the 2017 season, we’re breaking down whether each Florida State opponent projects to be better or worse than it was last year. Part II can be found here.

The final iteration of our series covers the November slate of FBS opponents. This includes the Syracuse Orange, Clemson Tigers, and the Florida Gators. It is worth noting that FSU takes on FCS opponent Delaware State on Nov. 18.

Syracuse Orange: Better

Key Returners: Eric Dungey (QB), Zaire Franklin (LB), Ervin Philips (WR)

There is not a team in the nation that brings back more veterans than Syracuse. Seriously — Phil Steele has the Orange at No. 1 when it comes to returning starters. This bodes well for Dino Babers, who had his inaugural coaching season end on a 4-game losing streak.

In fact, one of those games was a contest where the Orange scored 61 points and still lost. Offense was already looking up for Syracuse when it hired Babers, who has a lengthy track record of good output. His 2016 iteration was looking very solid through the first eight games with quarterback Eric Dungey at the helm. Dungey then suffered a concussion against Clemson and was out for the remainder of the season. He is now back with two of his top three receivers, five offensive lineman with at least eight career starts, and his top two running backs. Barring major injuries, this offense is going to be a legitimate top 30 unit.

The defense was obviously the weak link last season (refer back to first sentence of preceding paragraph). That’s because a lot of young players got major reps last year — something that shows with the fact that 11 starters are returning. Zaire Franklin at linebacker is the clear highlight with 101 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. Beyond him, there’s promising players at defensive end (Chris Slayton) and safety (Daivon Ellison). Syracuse probably won’t become an elite unit anytime soon, but it doesn’t need to be. The Orange just need to not give up 40-plus points per game.

Clemson Tigers: Worse

Key Returners: Christian Wilkins (DE/DT), Dexter Lawrence (DT), Deon Cain (WR), Mitch Hyatt (LT)

There’s almost no way Clemson could get better after winning the national championship and losing the best quarterback in program history. With that being said, the Tigers still bring back NFL talent on the defense and have a high floor for 2017.

The offense will undergo a bit of a rebuild. Deshaun Watson is in the NFL, as is leading rusher Wayne Gallman, leading receiver Mike Williams, and second-leading receiver Jordan Leggett. If nothing else, the line will be stable since it returns four starters. How that unit plays is crucial, since right now the options to take over the offense are junior Kelly Bryant, sophomore Tucker Israel, and then a couple of freshmen with Zerrick Cooper (redshirt) and Hunter Johnson. The lone “impact” returner is wide receiver Deon Cain, who looks primed to be a leader after more than 700 yards receiving and nine touchdowns in 2016.

Much of Clemson’s 2017 will depend on the defense. Losing guys like cornerback Cordea Tankersley and linebacker Ben Boulware will certainly cause some growing pains early in the year. Thankfully, the Tigers have at least three NFL draft picks on the defensive line. Christian Wilkins is a multi-positional lineman and first-team All-American; Dexter Lawrence is a defensive tackle who was named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year; and Clelin Ferrell was a redshirt freshman defensive end who made waves in 2016 with 12.5 tackles for loss. In fact, by the end of the year, the Tiger defensive line might be the best in the country. It will need to be to help the team break in the newcomers.

Florida Gators: Worse

Key Returners: Antonio Callaway (WR), Martez Ivey (OT), Cece Jefferson (DE), Marcell Harris (S)

More than any team on this list, the Florida Gators’ 2017 season might hold the answer to whether or not their head coach, Jim McElwain, is the answer. He is entering his third year at the helm of a football team that has remained competitive, but still below the expectations.

Will the offense finally work? This has seemingly been the question for the past six years of Florida football, and each edition seems to answer “no”. There won’t be any excuses for 2017 (barring injury). 10 different starters are back. Wide receiver Antonio Callaway has led the team in receiving for the past two seasons and figures to do so in 2017. Running back Jordan Scarlett is underrated and looks primed for a 1,000-yard season.

While many of the starters haven’t been game-changers yet, they still provide experience and potential. The biggest question remains at the quarterback position. Will transfer Malik Zaire take the starting job after a short adjustment period? Will redshirt freshman Feleipe Franks assume the spot that many predicted he eventually would? Either way, McElwain is running out of time to show an offense that has a pulse.

The defense figures to take a step back with their multitude of losses. Some of it is overstated, as injuries last year forced a lot of young players to step up. But the fact of the matter is that a team doesn’t just replace both starting corners, two starting linebackers, a starting safety, and a starting defensive end without some setbacks. Cece Jefferson remains at defensive end and Marcell Harris is a good safety. Those two are basically the only ones who have proven they can be relied upon.

Beyond them, it is a mix of high potential/inconsistent returners (Chauncey Gardner) and first-time starters. The loss of defensive back coach Torrian Gray to the NFL also needs to be overcome. There’s no reason to think that the defense will bottom out, but there’s also few reasons to believe it will remain a top 5 unit.