FSU Football: Top 7 freshmen to play meaningful minutes in 2017

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 08: Jacob Pugh #16 and DeMarcus Walker #44 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrate a sack on Brad Kaaya #15 of the Miami Hurricanes during a game at Hard Rock Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 08: Jacob Pugh #16 and DeMarcus Walker #44 of the Florida State Seminoles celebrate a sack on Brad Kaaya #15 of the Miami Hurricanes during a game at Hard Rock Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Cam Akers

The heir apparent to Dalvin Cook in most peoples eyes. The No. 1 running back in the 2017 class and five-star recruit enrolled early and was impressing folk during the spring game.

Jacques Patrick has seniority but doesn’t have a great deal of experience with only 124 carries in his first two season at FSU. Plus, he’s not the home run threat Cook was whereas Akers has the ability to change the numbers on the scoreboard as Jimbo Fisher likes to say.

He has the ability to run inside the tackles, break runs outside and is a threat to catch passes out of the backfield.

Akers does have to compete with other talented running backs like Amir Rasul, Khalan Laborn and Zaquandre White. I expect him to ease into the season in spot duty with Patrick and Rasul getting the majority of the carries.

However, Akers is too talented to keep off the field the entire year. He could be getting the bulk of the carries by the time the season comes to a close unless Patrick and others really raise their games.