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FSU Football: What Jacques Patrick injury means for running back position

By Jason Parker

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 7: Running back Jacques Patrick #9 of the Florida State Seminoles steps through the would be tackle of defensive back Jaquan Johnson #4 of the Miami Hurricanes as he carries the ball 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 Jacques Patrick #9 of the Florida State Seminoles steps through the would be tackle of defensive back Jaquan Johnson #4 of the Miami Hurricanes as he carries the ball 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 will be without a main offensive component this week against BC – and it’s a major blow to an already weak offense in 2017.

If anything else could go wrong for FSU football in 2017, it may just have as the news broke earlier this week that running back Jacques Patrick will be missing the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered in last weekend’s loss to the Louisville Cardinals. It means the Seminoles will be down one of their top offensive targets halfway through the season.

So far in 2017, Patrick is second on the team in rushing yards with 434 on 76 carries – which quick math breaks down to just under six yards a carry this season. As bad as the offense has played this season, including being ranked 110th in rushing offense, Patrick has been one of the shining lights with his ability to get into the open field and run over defenders.

His absence means the entire running game will pretty much fall into the hands of true freshman Cam Akers. With 454 yards this season, Akers is the team’s leading rusher who has grown over the past three games, including two 100+ yard performances in games against Miami and Duke.

As for the other seven running backs currently on the FSU football roster, only one has actually carried the ball this season – as sophomore running back Amir Rasul will become second on the depth chart with his seven carries and 26 yards on the season. That’s right – the other six running backs have not touched the ball once while two receivers, Nyqwan Murray and Keith Gavin, do.

The big question is will Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher burn the redshirt year on true freshman Khalan Laborn or Zaquandre White to provide some backup should something happen to either Akers or Rasul at some point. Fisher would love to keep all their eligibility there for the future, but it may not be an option at this point.

If there is one positive – and believe me, there aren’t many – the Seminoles will be facing a Boston College run defense that ranks 123rd nationally this season. If the Noles can capitalize on this, it would help ease the burden with Patrick out and get the team in a flow before FBS games against Syracuse (49th against the run), Clemson (15th) and Florida (26th).

Next: Noles lacking in style during 2017 season

For now, it’s the Cam Akers show at the running back spot in Tallahassee – and you can only hope he will be as good as the last true freshman to start at running back…a guy by the name of Dalvin Cook.

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