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FSU Football: Cam Akers shows he is ready for big time football

By Jason Parker

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 7: Running back Cam Akers #3 of the Florida State Seminoles carries the ball as defensive back Jaquan Johnson #4 of the Miami Hurricanes tries to tackle him during the first half of an NCAA football game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 7: Running back Cam Akers #3 of the Florida State Seminoles carries the ball as defensive back Jaquan Johnson #4 of the Miami Hurricanes tries to tackle him during the first half of an NCAA football game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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FSU football hasn’t had much to cheer about this season, but the growing play of their freshman running back is something to be proud of.

As FSU football continues to limp through a season that might end up being one to forget at this point, fans of the Seminoles have plenty of questions still remaining. Will James Blackman survive at quarterback with a swiss cheese offensive line? Which defense will actually show up on a weekly basis? Will there be changes on the coaching staff after the season?

Oen question that seems to have an answer was whether Cam Akers, one of the top recruits in the country in last year’s signing class, would be able to hang with the big boys in college football this season. Through four games, the answer seems to be yes.

While there is still room to grow – as head coach Jimbo Fisher would love to see him stick to running it north and south more often – as Akers has been on campus less than nine months now, the way he played against the Miami Hurricanes showed that he is ready for the big time at this point.

In the first three games of the season, Akers had run the ball for just 143 yards on 36 carries (with two of those games being against top 18 rush defenses in Alabama and N.C. State). Against the Hurricanes and a defense that was in the top 20 nationally against the run, Akers torched them for 121 yards on 20 carries that included a 46 yard run and one long run that included a memorable hit on the Canes defender:

At the moment, it appears that Fisher is going to keep the two headed monster at running back with Akers splitting carries with Jacques Patrick, who nearly had 100 yards himself in the loss. However, if Akers continues at this rate, he could easily be the solo starter before the end of the year.

Akers entered spring football practice for FSU football with more anticipation than any recruit in recent memory, with fans and some teammates expecting big things before he had even played a college football down. His performance against the Hurricanes showed he is heading in the right direction.

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FSU football will face three of the top 40 ranked run defenses at this point, including 15th ranked Duke and 40th ranked Louisville in the next two games. If Akers can match his numbers against Miami in those games or do better, his spot will be solidified as a big time running back in a long line of stars at the position for the Seminoles this decade.

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