Though its had no trouble through two games, getting pressure on the quarterback might be a bit tougher going forward for Florida State.
The Seminoles could be without sophomore defensive end Josh Sweat moving forward after Sweat injured his left knee in the final practice leading up to Saturday’s highly-anticipated trip to No. 10 Louisville, a source close to the program told The Daily Nole on Thursday. Sweat did not travel with the team, the source said.
Sweat, a former 5-star prospect, was once the nation’s top recruit coming out of high school in Virginia. Sweat suffered a gruesome injury to the same knee as a high school senior, but to the surprise of many, was an immediate contributor as a freshman last season. It is not known which knee it is or the extent of the injury, but sources said that Sweat seemed to be in a lot of pain.
As a freshman last season, Sweat played in all 13 games, which included nine starts. Sweat tallied 41 tackles, five for loss, two sacks and an interception in 2015. Sweat bulked up to 250 pounds in the offseason and had tallied three tackles, including a stop for loss over the first two games.
The loss of Sweat would serve as a huge blow to an FSU team that lost safety Derwin James to a meniscus tear suffered during last week’s win over Charleston Southern and already lacks depth up front. The Seminoles lost defensive end Keith Bryant, who had performed well in fall camp after moving from defensive tackle, for the season less than a week before the 2016 opener.
If Sweat is forced to miss significant time, junior linebacker Jacob Pugh will likely slide in as the starter at the “Buck” position. Pugh has six tackles and 0.5 sacks through two games in 2016. Pugh recorded a team-high seven tackles and two sacks in last season’s 41-21 victory over Louisville in Tallahassee.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
Mitch White/FSU athletics
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