For Florida State, the defensive line is expected to be one of its best and deepest positions in 2017. The Seminoles may lose DeMarcus Walker, but the addition of 5-stars Joshua Kaindoh and Marvin Wilson on top of the returning talent makes FSU one of the scariest teams up front in the country.
While FSU returns a ton of talent, the amount of defensive line talent that it will face is off the charts. Without further ado, here are the top five opposing players the Seminoles will see along the defensive line in 2017:
1. Harold Landry, Boston College (DE)
2016 Stats: 51 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, 1 interception, 7 forced fumbles
Boston College’s Harold Landry returns for a senior season after leading the nation in sacks a season ago. A 6-3, 250-pound defensive end, Landry is virtually unblockable off the edge. In last season’s 45-7 loss to FSU, Landry tallied six total tackles and two sacks. The teams meet in Chestnut Hill this season on Oct. 27.
2. Dexter Lawrence, Clemson (DT)
2016 Stats: 78 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 7 sacks
Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence had an unbelievable freshman year. At 340 pounds, Lawrence is ridiculously athletic for his size and is a big part of a Clemson defensive front that may be the best in the country. Against FSU last year, Lawrence recorded two tackles and a sack. The teams meet this season on Nov. 11 at Death Valley.
3. Christian Wilkins, Clemson (DT)
2016 Stats: 82 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks
At 6-4 and 310 pounds, Wilkins has shown tremendous versatility with the ability to line up either at end or tackle. Wilkins ranked fourth on the team with 82 total tackles — a ridiculous amount for a defensive lineman — last season while leading the team in sacks and tackles for loss.
4. Bradley Chubb, N.C. State (DE)
2016 Stats: 58 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles
With all the defensive line talent in the ACC, N.C. State’s Bradley Chubb has quietly flown under the radar, but has been a dependable player for the Wolfpack since the first day. At 6-4 and 260 pounds, Chubb is capable of beating opposing offensive lineman with both speed and power. Chubb recoded just two tackles in last season’s loss to FSU. The teams meet this season in Tallahassee on Sept. 23.
5. Da’Ron Payne, Alabama (DT)
2016 Stats: 36 total tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne may not have put up the numbers that others on this list have, but he is a force in the middle of the Crimson Tide’s defensive front. Though the box score might not fill up, Payne made the Crimson Tide virtually impossible to run against last season. Alabama was the only team in the country not to allow 1,000 yards rushing for the season and yielded a nation’s best 2.0 yards per carry. FSU will hope to buck those trends when the teams meet in Atlanta on Sept. 2.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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