FSU Football: 5 players 'Noles can't afford to lose in 2017

FSU Football: 5 players ‘Noles can’t afford to lose in 2017

By Kelvin Hunt | Jul 9, 2017

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Deondre Francois #12 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrates scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarteragainst the Michigan Wolverines during the Capitol One Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

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TALLAHASSEE, FL – NOVEMBER 26: Austin Appleby #12 of the Florida Gators fumbles the ball after being hit by Josh Sweat #9 of the Florida State Seminoles in the first quarter of the game at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Josh Sweat

Josh Sweat is now the most experienced defensive end on the FSU football team with the departure of DeMarcus Walker to the NFL.

Sweat battled injuries early last season, but finished looking like the player FSU thought he could be coming out of high school.

Josh Sweat finished the season with 41 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He had the exact same amount of tackles as a true freshman, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story.

He increased his tackles for loss from 5 to 11.5 and sacks from 2 to 7, not to mention the ‘Noles played one of the toughest slate of offenses in the country in 2016.

Sweat has improved as a pass rusher, but is still best against the run which is where teams will look to exploit FSU on the opposite side of Sweat. If Sweat where to be unavailable it would force FSU to field defensive ends on BOTH sides that are unproven against setting the edge against the run.

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