FSU Spring Game: Players with Most to Gain From a Good Showing

Florida State closes out the spring on Saturday with its annual spring game at Doak Campbell Stadium. For some and particularly younger players, the spring game is a chance to make a statement for a starting spot or a bigger role.

Last year, players like Deondre Francois, Auden Tate and Marcus Lewis made those cases. Here’s a look at the five Seminoles with the most to gain from a solid performance on Saturday:

Bailey Hockman, QB

Bailey Hockman won’t be competing for a starting job on Saturday, but he can make his case to be the backup to Deondre Francois. The competition looks to be redshirt junior J.J. Cosentino. For his career, Cosentino is just 7-for-19 passing for 46 yards. In last year’s spring game, Cosentino didn’t complete a pass. Hockman could secure the No. 2 spot and perhaps become the first true freshman quarterback to take a snap at FSU since Drew Weatherford in 2004.

Cam Akers, RB

With Dalvin Cook off to the NFL, there will be a lot of carries up for grabs in 2017 and freshman and former 5-star recruit Cam Akers will make his case to get plenty of them. The top player from Mississippi last year, Akers is the total package when it comes to backs. Jacques Patrick and Amir Rasul aren’t likely to go quietly, but arriving early could pay huge dividends for Akers.

Keith Gavin, WR

Sophomore wide receiver Keith Gavin didn’t have a single catch as a freshman last year, but his competition didn’t do much either. Gavin is one of only five scholarship receivers who will be there this spring and the program is working George Campbell, who missed 2016 with a groin injury, along slowly. Auden Tate and Nyqwan Murray will likely be FSU’s top two targets out wide, but Gavin could be the team’s No. 3. At 6-3 and 225 pounds, Gavin is a big target and a very good athlete. He showed that in the Orange Bowl with a 66-yard kickoff return that set up FSU’s game-winning touchdown.

Baveon Johnson, C

With last year’s starting center Alec Eberle and Andrew Boselli out for Saturday, redshirt freshman Baveon Johnson will have the chance to make his case to be the team’s starting center. Johnson has worked himself into shape over the last year and by all accounts, has had a solid spring. Eberle was inconsistent last season, opening the door for a younger player like Johnson to take his spot.

Joshua Kaindoh, DE

The third early enrollee to make this list, Joshua Kaindoh is a 6-6, 250-pound freshman and former 5-star recruit expected to play right away. Kaindoh was listed as a weakside end by recruiting outlets, but his body may be big enough to play the strong side. If that’s the case, he could be the replacement to Consensus All-American DeMarcus Walker. Josh Sweat is expected to move over and grab that spot, but if Kaindoh is ready, Sweat could remain at “BUCK” or rotate between the strong and weak sides.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson