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FSU Football’s Best Players For The 2016 Season: No. 2

By Jason Parker

Nov 14, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State University defensive back Derwin James (3) before the game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State University defensive back Derwin James (3) before the game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /
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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. 2 – Derwin James (Safety)

Sophomore / Haines City, FL (Haines City)

When the five star, top rated defensive back in the country last year stepped on the field for FSU football in 2015, there were very few who expected him to have an impact so quickly. By the time the 2015 season had come to an end, many were wondering if James will finish his time as the best player to ever play in the secondary for the Seminoles.

After playing more of a reserve role through the first five games of the regular season, James took the field for his first career start when FSU football hosted Louisville. For the year, he had the third most tackles in a season for a freshman in Seminoles history (91) to go along with 4.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries and forced fumbles each.

More than that, Derwin James showed that he is more mature than what his age says he is. James looked like a natural in the secondary and fed off of what All-American defensive back Jalen Ramsey was telling him, positioning James to be the new leader of the secondary now that Ramsey has gone on to the NFL.

Now that Ramsey is in Jacksonville, Derwin James has been handed the keys to the secondary and will be the clear voice for that group this season. More importantly, he will have the respect of his teammates and, when it is all said and done, could be the best defensive player in the ACC this season.

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