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FSU Football: Why Cam Akers must step up production vs. quality foes

By Jason Parker

TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 03: Cam Akers #3 of the Florida State Seminoles gets tackled for a loss of yardage in the second quarter of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 3, 2018 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 03: Cam Akers #3 of the Florida State Seminoles gets tackled for a loss of yardage in the second quarter of the game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 3, 2018 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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FSU football has one of the best running backs in college football in their backfield, but the former five star recruit tends to go quiet against the best.

In the fourth quarter of what we could generously call a disappointing opener for the FSU football season on Monday, a glimmer of hope came when sophomore running back Cam Akers went around the left side, ran through a couple Virginia Tech tacklers and went 85 yards down the field to get the ball inside the 10 yard line and give the Seminoles a chance.

Akers’ run, the longest in program history that didn’t result in a touchdown, was certainly the highlight of the night for the running game and the man who many across the country think is among the best at that position.

That play was also a tad embarrassing considering that Akers finished the night for the Noles with 14 carries that gained 82 yards – which, for those non-math majors out there like me, means that he ran the ball 13 times for NEGATIVE three yards in the game.

Now, I am not going to say that Akers is responsible for all the woes in the opener (cause the FSU football offensive line sure did their part to help things out) – but when you are one of the faces of the program and you are the one getting national love and being on the preseason magazines, the bullseye is on you to perform.

It’s an issue that dates back to last season. Yes, Akers set the freshman record for yards in a season – but did so against inferior run defenses last season for the most part.

  • In 2017, Akers and FSU football faced four opponents that ranked in the top 40 in rush defense (No. 2 Alabama, No. 19 Clemson, No. 28 N.C. State and No. 39 Florida) – and in those four games, Akers finished combined with 48 carries for 159 yards (3.3 YPC) and one touchdown.
  • At the same time, the Seminoles played four teams ranked 93rd or worse in total defense (No. 93 Wake Forest, No. 98 Syracuse, No. 101 Boston College and No. 119 Louisiana Monroe) and Akers finished with 73 carries for 416 yards (5.7 YPC) and four touchdowns.

FSU football’s first opponent, Virginia Tech, finished last season as the 15th ranked defense allowing just 3.3 yards per carry and 118 yards per game. Against the Seminoles, the Hokies allowed that same amount per carry as the Noles ran 28 times for a total of 94 yards.

Akers and the Seminoles are not going to catch many breaks this season with a schedule that exchanges the No. 57 rush defense from Duke last season with the Hokies – along with Alabama being replaced by No. 10 Northern Illinois and Louisiana Monroe by No. 49 Notre Dame.

Next. 3 reasons not to overreact to Virginia Tech loss. dark

This is not a condemnation on Cam Akers or a public outcry for Jacques Patrick, Kahlan Laborn, Amir Rasul or anyone else because the whole running back room needs to get into the game. But if you are going to get all the national publicity, you need to show up when the lights are the brightest – and Cam Akers hasn’t always done that.

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