Chop Chat
Fansided

Chop Chat FSU Football 2017 Awards: Offensive MVP

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit

FSU football has completed another regular season of action – and we at Chop Chat are here to hand out awards from the 2017 campaign.

Throughout the course of the 2017 season for FSU football, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that the offense had some struggles to deal with over the entire campaign. Of course, it all started with the injury to starting quarterback Deondre Fancois that set the season into a tailspin just one game in.

As the season, that side of the ball got their footing and seemed to improve from a week to week basis (well, except for that Boston College debacle that we won’t talk about). From quarterback James Blackman gaining momentum weekly to a wide receiver group rattled by injuries seemed to have at least one player step up each week.

For much of the season, the strength of the now 110th ranked offense in the FBS was a group at running back who – with a few exceptions – helped keep the head of the offense above water. One of the running backs, in particular, lived up to the hype that was brought with him into the season…and that’s why he is the Chop Chat FSU Football 2017 Offensive MVP.

RB Cam Akers (Freshman – Clinton, MS)

Season Stats – 181 carries for 930 yards (5.1 YPC) with seven touchdowns

When Akers stepped on the campus of Florida State in January of this year, all the talk was about the man who was the top player in his home state and one of the top running backs in the 2017 class. In the annual Garnet and Gold spring game, Akers finished with 80 yards on 10 carries and the hype train kept moving.

Through the first three weeks of the season, it all seemed to be just hype as Akers had just 143 yards for just under four yards a touch as FSU football was struggling to find their rhythm. Akers, however, found his grove with 121 yards against Miami and 115 yards (along with his first career touchdown) the following week against Duke.

After two down weeks, Cam Akers responded with a 199 yard, two touchdown effort in the win over Syracuse before adding a touchdown each against Delaware State and Florida. In the regular season finale, Akers went for 117 yards and two scores as FSU football became bowl eligible by beating Louisiana Monroe.

For the season, Akers has a chance to join elite company if he can get 79 yards in the Independence Bowl – a number that would make him the leading rusher in FSU football history for a freshman, a record currently held by Dalvin Cook.

Next: How fast and explosive will FSU offense be under Taggart?

With Akers averaging just under 78 yards a game, the chance is there against a Southern Miss defense giving up 133 yards a game as the 29th ranked rush defense in the FBS.

Home/FSU Football