FSU Football duo ranked among top 50 players entering 2018 by ESPN

FSU football is one of several teams who have multiple players ranked by the Worldwide Leader as some of the best entering the upcoming season.

While there is no argument that the FSU football team underachieved when it comes to their record during the 2017 season, there is also no doubt that it wasn’t due to a lack of talent – between the amount that returns to the Seminoles this season and those who went on to the NFL.

When the Noles take the field for the opener against Virginia Tech in less than four weeks, they will have plenty of riches at the quarterback spot no matter who comes out on top – while on defense, they will be led by maybe the next great defensive end to come from Tallahassee and make it to the pro game.

However, none of those players even sniffed the list of the top 50 in college football by ESPN – but the list did feature two of the biggest recruits to arrive at the FSU football program in recent years when running back Cam Akers and cornerback Levonta Taylor made the list at No. 21 and No. 34 respectively.

"Akers broke Florida State’s single-season freshman rushing record…but the expectations are even higher this season…Already a preseason All-ACC selection, one of Akers’ goals this season is to rush for 2,000 yards.Taylor came into his own last season in his first year as a starter…Thanks to several key departures, including Derwin James, Taylor is now the veteran among the group and will be asked to anchor a unit that has the potential for a big year."

There is no doubt that Cam Akers may be the biggest name nationally among the FSU football stars because of all the attention he got coming into the program as a true freshman – but if he can live up to half the hype entering this season, the Seminoles will be in good shape.

As for Taylor, the end of the 2017 season saw what fans of the Noles have been waiting for since he stepped on campus before the 2016 season. Taylor will now be expected to cover the best receivers on the other team and show the shut down skills we all heard about out of high school.

On a selfish note, I still would have liked to see Brian Burns on the list because I think he will end up being one of the best defensive ends in college football this season – but sometimes gets forgotten in the ACC thanks to all the talent at Clemson.