FSU football had a wild ride last season with their defense – here’s a look at the top five players entering 2017 on that side of the ball.
If you ever wanted to find a thought that sums up what took place on the defensive side of the ball for FSU football during the 2016 season, the opening lines from Charles Dickens’ classic A Tale of Two Cities pretty much would do the trick: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Yeah, that’s pretty much a perfect summary of how last year went for the Seminoles.
The worst of the times got out of the way early, as the defense gave up just under 30 points a game the first two months of the season while struggling with the season ending injury to Derwin James and injuries to other players. Yet, the final five games saw a whole new team – one that played with energy, fight and ended the year vastly improved and giving up just over 17 points a game.
In 2017, the unit will return James – who might be better than ever following knee surgery – and a cast of players ready to dominate. Here are the top five players for the FSU football defense entering 2017.
No. 5 – LB Matthew Thomas (Redshirt Senior – Miami, FL)
If there was a comeback player of the year for the 2016 season, it would be former five star recruit from South Florida. After having played in just 10 games over his first three seasons with a total of 29 tackles (which included missing all of 2015 after being ineligible), Thomas lived up to the hype and led the team with 77 tackles, leading the team in that stat for the final two games of the year against Florida and Michigan.
Thomas was on the verge of being one of the most overrated recruits to come to Tallahassee based on his performance, with not many people knowing the personal struggles he was dealing with following the death of his mother. Now, with his life in order and his focus on honoring her, Thomas has become a physical freak who could be the next great FSU football linebacker many thought he would be.
Thomas will be part of a senior filled linebacker group along with Ro’Derrick Hoskins and Jacob Pugh this coming season. With all due respect to both of those great players, the unit will be led by the man wearing No. 6. If Thomas continues to live up to expectations, there will be no stopping him this season.
No. 4 – DE Brian Burns (Sophomore – Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Florida State Seminoles Football
During his time as the head coach of FSU football, Jimbo Fisher has had no problem playing his freshman early and often to get them ready to contribute during their career with the Seminoles. Not only did this five star recruit in the 2016 class play early, he dominated when on the field and seems ready to be considered among the elite before his time is done.
By the time the 2016 was over, Burns had the most sacks by a freshman at Florida State in 40 seasons, finishing with 9.5 for the season that included six over the final five games of the regular season for a defense that averaged almost four sacks a game, the best in the FBS. His total included one and a half sacks in a game against Florida and two and a half sacks to go along with a blocked punt against Syracuse.
Now, Burns will be paired on the end with Josh Sweat as he takes the spot left by DeMarcus Walker – who was just an All-American drafted in the second round. Needless to say, Burns is going to have to step his game up this coming year to full Walker’s cleats full time. With his size and strength, Burns has the potential to leave as one of the best ends in FSU football history.
No. 3 – CB Tarvarus McFadden (Junior – Fort Lauderdale, FL)
There was a point during the 2016 season when many people didn’t think the other No. 4 on the Seminoles’ roster was going to live up to the hype of being a five star recruit in the 2015 class. Even after getting an interception in the opener versus Ole Miss, McFadden was getting beat on plays and was considered by some to be a hot and cold player on the field.
By the end of the season, he had seven more picks – including a four game stretch with an interception against Miami, Wake Forest, Clemson and N.C. State. All of a sudden, McFadden was the leader in the secondary and saw his play improve not just when it came to INT’s, but all-around. Now, the All-American and Jack Tatum Award winner has become someone that opposing quarterbacks fear.
In 2017, McFadden is going to be a marked man by those who expect the same numbers that he put up last year. While offenses may start to shy away from throwing his direction, the main No. 4 on the roster this season will have to use the rest of his athletic abilities to make plays and stay noticed. If he can do that, there is no telling what the future will hold for McFadden in Tallahassee or at the next level.
No. 2 – DT Derrick Nnadi (Senior – Virginia Beach, VA)
While much of the attention last season was paid to players like DeMarcus Walker, Josh Sweat, Tarvarus McFadden and others on the FSU football defense, the man in the middle of the line was beyond influential to the improvement of the Seminoles on that side of the ball – and his return to Tallahassee is one of many reasons why big things are expected.
Nnadi joined forces with the Noles’ dominant ends to create a front line that, when on their game, was one of the best in the country. He finished the year with six and a half sacks to go along with just under 50 tackles and combining with Walker on a fumble and recovery in both the opener and the regular season finale for a defensive unit that was ranked in the top 25 nationally in both rushing yards allowed and total defense.
Creating holes in the middle of the line will force offenses to decide whether to double team Nnadi or the ends – they wont be able to do both very often. Without his big presence in the middle of the line, none of that happens – which is why big No. 91 could end up actually being the most valuable player on the FSU football defense by the time 2017 is over.
No. 1 – S Derwin James (Redshirt Sophomore – Haines City, FL)
If there is any question of how great a player this former five star recruit from Central Florida, consider the fact that Sports Illustrated listed him as the top player in all of college football this season – and he played a total of six and a half quarters last season before going down with a season ending knee injury that sent the FSU football defense into a tailspin for the next few games.
In a game and a half of action last season, he had 11 tackles and one interception – which would have put him on pace to break his freshman numbers when it came to tackles (91) to go along with the four and a half sacks he put up that first year. James is a complete player who the coaches put on a variety of different positions during spring drills to see what he can do on defense – so don’t be surprised to see him covering receivers and rushing passers in 2017.
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It’s almost amazing to consider that you have someone that hardly played at all being considered the best of the best – and yet, that’s the type of talent that Derwin James is. If he can play up to even half the hype entering the season, the FSU football team could be in for a special year and James could be getting paid in 2018 as a likely top five draft pick.