The Best Team FSU Will Face at Each Position Group

Talent won’t be at a shortage this season for Florida State. The Seminoles are not only one of the nation’s most talented teams, but they’ll face a lot of talented teams as well.

Over the past decade, the SEC has produced the most NFL talent of any FBS conference, but to the surprise of some, the ACC comes in at No. 2. Teams from those two conferences will account for 10 of the 12 games on FSU’s regular season schedule. Florida State will also face five teams ranked in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll.

While FSU will face a lot of talented opponents in 2016, each team has its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s the most talented team the Seminoles will face at each position group:

Offense

Quarterbacks: Clemson
Clemson junior quarterback Deshaun Watson might not only be the best quarterback FSU faces all season, he might be the best player in the country. Watson can not only carve up a defense with his big arm, but he can make plays with his legs as well. Last season, Watson passed for 297 yards against the Seminoles and rushed for another 107 in a 23-13 Clemson win.

Running Backs: North Carolina
Clemson’s Wayne Gallman is probably the best individual back FSU will face this year, but North Carolina might have the best 1-2 punch in Elijah Hood and T.J. Logan. Hood rushed for nearly 1,500 yards last season with 17 touchdowns while Logan was the change-of-pace back, finishing with 551 total yards and six scores.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: Clemson
Clemson had five players with at least five touchdown grabs last season and four of them return. Artavis Scott led the team with 901 yards receiving and the Tigers will also get Mike Williams back. Williams led the team with 1,030 yards receiving in 2014 before suffering a neck injury early last year. Deon Cain and Hunter Renfrow are also reliable targets as is tight end Jordan Leggett.

Offensive Line: North Carolina
Clemson had three offensive linemen named to the preseason All-ACC team, but North Carolina returns a contingent far more proven. Tackle Jon Heck, guard Caleb Peterson and center Lucas Crowley were all named to All-ACC teams last season and all return. Tackle Bentley Spain started nine games for the Tar Heels last season and guard Brad Henson is fairly experienced for a first-year starter.

Defense

Defensive Line: Ole Miss
Despite losing Robert Nkemdiche and Woodrow Hamilton up front, the Rebels still have probably the best defensive front that Florida State will face this season. Defensive end Marquis Haynes is coming off a 10-sack, 16.5-tackle for loss campaign and on the interior, D.J. Jones is coming off a solid year. Defensive tackle Breeland Speaks and defensive end Fadol Brown are both experienced as well. Isaac Gross, a defensive tackle, had a stellar 2014 before missing all but one game last season with a neck injury.

Linebackers: Louisville
Senior Keith Kelsey and Devonte Fields are without a doubt the best tandem of linebackers in the ACC. Kelsey had more than 100 tackles last season while Fields, who is used mostly as a pass-rusher, is coming off a 2015 campaign where he recorded 10.5 sacks and an ungodly 22 tackles for loss. Stacy Thomas, the other projected starter at linebacker, recorded 11 tackles against Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl.

Secondary: Florida
Clemson’s Cordrea Tankersley and the Louisville duo of Josh Harvey-Clemons and Trumaine Washington are all very talented, but the best opposing defensive back the Seminoles will see this season is Florida cornerback Jalen Tabor. Hard-hitting redshirt senior Marcus Maye is also a very good safety while juniors Quincy Wilson, Nick Washington and Duke Dawson bring experience.

Special Teams

Special Teams: Miami
The most memorable moment from Miami’s 2015 campaign was the 7-lateral kickoff return for a touchdown to knock off Duke as time expired, but the Hurricanes are pretty solid overall on special teams. Michael Badgley was 25-for-30 on field goals last season with a long of 57 yards while Justin Vogel is probably the ACC’s best punter. Elder and Stacy Coley have combined for four career kick and punt returns for touchdowns.