FSU Football: Noles nowhere to be found in early 2019 rankings
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football is coming off the worst season in over 40 years after winning five games and missing a bowl game. Expectations are virtually non-existent from media in 2019.
FSU football seems to be an afterthought after the worst season in recent history. The surprising thing is the Noles have held it together on the recruiting front for the most part.
They have a solid class thus far and have addressed most of their needs with some good options left on their board.
They’ll lose a couple of veteran players in DeMarcus Christmas and Brian Burns off the defensive line. Of course the offensive line was a mash unit in 2019 anyways, so it’s almost impossible to be worse.
The receiver group should be much better in 2019 with some talented players adding to the mix who redshirted last season.
The secondary should be improved and the Noles don’t have the same murderer’s row schedule they had in 2018.
Despite all that, they are nowhere to be found in ESPN’s way too early top 25 by Mark Schlabach released earlier this week.
Thoughts
This is not a bad thing despite what some fans may think. One of the biggest issues for Willie Taggart was the words he used to describe the program.
He indicated it was a “realignment” instead of a “rebuild” and that set expectations too high for a fan base thirsty to overcome a previous season of seven wins.
Now, Taggart didn’t know he was going to lose some key members from the offensive line early in the season. However, it’s always smarter to under promise and over deliver than vice versa.
The Noles starting the season outside the top 25 sets the tone for that to happen. They are still one of the most talented teams in the ACC despite just five wins in 2018.
If they get solid QB play and the offensive line takes half a step forward coupled with a solid defense. The recipe to sneak up on some folk in 2019 is there for the taking.
It’ll all start with Boise State in the opener. A win there helps set the tone for the season, but a loss would be disaster for Willie Taggart and a fan base desperate to see a program trending in the right direction.