The start of the regular season in college football is now just more than a month away. While Florida State has a ton of talent and national championship aspirations, it will also face a ton of talent this upcoming season.
Deshaun Watson and Mitchell Trubisky may be off the NFL, but the FSU defense will try and slow a number of very good signal-callers this upcoming season. Here’s a look at the five best the Seminoles will see:
1. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
2016 Stats: 56% completions, 3,543 yards passing, 30 touchdown passes, 9 interceptions, 1,571 yards rushing, 21 rushing touchdowns
While two first-round quarterbacks are off FSU’s slate for 2017, the Seminoles still have to face the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in Louisville’s Lamar Jackson. Jackson has played well against FSU in each of the last two seasons and accounted for five total touchdowns last season as the Cardinals scored more points against Florida State than any team ever with 63. Jackson is explosive as a runner and continues to improve as a passer. The Seminoles will look to slow him down when the teams meet in Tallahassee on Oct. 21.
2. Jalen Hurts, Alabama
2016 Stats: 63% completions, 2,780 yards passing, 23 touchdown passes, 9 interceptions, 954 yards rushing, 13 rushing touchdowns
Florida State will open the 2017 season against a dual-threat in Alabama’s Jalen Hurts. Hurts still has a lot of room to improve as a passer, but is a good decision maker and a very good athlete. Hurts narrowly missed rushing for 1,000 yards last season and his 30-yard touchdown scamper in the national championship game gave the Crimson Tide a late lead. FSU will try its hand at stopping Hurts when the teams square off in Atlanta on Sept. 2.
3. Daniel Jones, Duke
2016 Stats: 63% completions, 2,836 yards passing, 16 touchdown passes, 9 interceptions, 486 yards rushing, 7 rushing touchdowns
There weren’t many bright spots for Duke last season, but quarterback Daniel Jones was one of them. In place of an injured Thomas Sirk, Jones accounted for 23 of Duke’s 39 offensive touchdowns last season, proving to be a threat with his arm and legs. Jones will try to figure out the FSU defense when the Blue Devils host the Seminoles on Oct. 14.
4. Eric Dungey, Syracuse
2016 Stats: 65% completions, 2,679 yards passing, 15 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 293 yards rushing, 6 rushing touchdowns
The problem for Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey has been staying healthy, but when he is, the Orange offense has the potential to put up a lot of points. Dungey did not play against FSU last season in the Carrier Dome, but did score Syracuse’s only two offensive touchdowns in the meeting prior in Tallahassee. Dungey will hope to find the end zone some more when the teams square off there this season on Nov. 4.
5. Ryan Finley, N.C. State
2016 Stats: 60% completions, 3,055 yards passing, 18 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 1 rushing touchdown
Unlike many of the other quarterbacks on the list, North Carolina State’s Ryan Finley is more of a pocket passer, but improved immensely over the second half of last season, throwing for at least 300 yards on four occasions last season. Against FSU in Raleigh, Finely passed for 307 yards and a touchdown in a 24-20 victory for FSU. The teams meet this year in Tallahassee on Sept. 23.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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