FSU Football: Top defensive players for Noles entering 2017 season

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ORLANDO, FL – SEPTEMBER 05: Derwin James #3 of the Florida State Seminoles reacts in the first half against the Mississippi Rebels during the Camping World Kickoff at Camping World Stadium on September 5, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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.

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