Chop Chat
Fansided

FSU Football’s Best Players For The 2016 Season: No. 3

By Jason Parker

Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jalen Ramsey (8) celebrates with defensive end DeMarcus Walker (44) against the Houston Cougars in the third quarter in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. The Cougars won 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jalen Ramsey (8) celebrates with defensive end DeMarcus Walker (44) against the Houston Cougars in the third quarter in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. The Cougars won 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Here is a look at some of the best players for FSU football heading into the 2016 season.

When FSU football kicks off the 2016 season in just over one month against the Ole Miss Rebels from Camping World Stadium in Orlando, there is plenty of expectation for what the year will have in store for the Seminoles. Coming off a national championship just three years ago, Florida State is expected to be one of the early favorites for a spot in the College Football Playoff after the regular season.

How far the Seminoles will go (and if they can win the fourth national championship in program history) will depend on the play of their talent roster. With arguably the deepest group of talent in the history of FSU football, the 2016 ‘Noles could go down as the best team in school history of things play out as expected.

The question remains unanswered, though: who are the best 10 players on the 2016 FSU football roster. It’s a hard question to answer, with talent on both sides of the ball including maybe the best players at certain positions in the entire country.

It’s a question that saw talents like wide receiver Auden Tate, cornerback Tarvarus McFadden and quarterbacks Malik Henry and Sean Maguire not make the final cut…which should tell you something about the talent that did make our list.

Here’s our countdown of the best 10 players on the 2016 FSU football team.

No. 3 – DeMarcus Walker (Defensive End)

Senior / Jacksonville, FL (Sandalwood)

As a freshman on the 2013 national championship team, Walker was a role player who appeared in a handful of games while learning what big college football was all about (while getting some bling in the process). In 2016, the beast wearing number 44 could be one of the main reasons why FSU football could be hoisting a national title trophy for the second time in four seasons.

While Walker had a nice sophomore year in 2014, his junior campaign was the true coming out party. He would finish the year with career highs in tackles (58), sacks (10.5) and forced fumbles (4.5) while also getting an interception in the Peach Bowl. Walker split the team’s Defensive Player of the Year honors with Jalen Ramsey, who was a top five pick in the NFL Draft this past April.

Thanks to his super year in 2015 (and the departure of several top stars in the ACC from other schools), Walker could be the best defensive player in the conference this season. He will be getting the attention of offensive lines and backfields across the ACC and the rest of FSU football’s schedule, but will be helped with Josh Sweat on the other side of the ball keeping offenses honest.

If the Seminoles are going to bring home the fourth national title in program history, plenty of it will have to do with how Walker plays this season. If his improvement continues as in years past, FSU football could be celebrating in Tampa come early January.

Home/FSU Football