FSU Football: Cam Akers is the clear bright spot for 2019 Seminoles
FSU Football was able to escape with a win on Saturday thanks solely to the play of their best star on either side of the ball at this point.
Another Saturday has come and gone and there is yet another laundry list of things to be critical of regarding this FSU football team. That seems to be the norm these days. Despite so much bad, there were a few bright spots I observed Saturday. The brightest of the bunch was easily the performance of junior running back Cam Akers.
I mean what else is there to say about this guy? The Mississippi-native absolutely went off Saturday; to the tune of 41 total offensive touches, 248 total yards and three scores. That stat line really doesn’t “need” any added perspective but just for the hell of it: FSU’s offense ran 90 total plays, gained 501 total yards and scored 45 points. That means that Cam Akers accounted for, roughly, half of the Seminole’s offensive output on Saturday. That’s a pretty good day at the office.
With his 36 rushing attempts on Saturday, Cam Akers also set a new school-record for carries in a single game. He also notched the second most rushing yards he’s ever gained in a game with 193. That stat line is beyond impressive on it’s own.
More impressive however, was when and how he got those numbers. Anyone who watched that game could tell you that Akers willed his team to victory on Saturday. But it was so much more than that. Every time his team needed a play, he made it. A first down, he gained it. A touchdown, he scored it. Literally every time this offense needed something, this guy made it happen.
All game long he was the guy the offense leaned on. Gaining the tough yards, fighting through contact and getting those crucial third downs. He took a beating all afternoon but kept coming back for more and delivering what we needed.
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In a way, when this program seemed on the edge of total collapse and in need of a rescue, he brought us through the fire. He’s a savior of sorts in that regard.
With less than seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter, with the ‘Noles inexplicably losing to Louisiana-Monroe and on the brink of utter embarrassment, Akers stepped up and saved the ‘Noles again. Taking a screen pass 44 yards for a touchdown and the lead. He would eventually go on and score the go ahead (game-winning) touchdown, further adding to his heroic status.
All in all, Akers turned in a pretty special performance Saturday; even if it wasn’t necessarily against an elite opponent. Even still, what I saw from Akers was a guy who has clearly gotten more comfortable running the ball within this offensive system.
He seems way more patient behind this porous offensive line and way more anticipatory with his reads. I see a matured running back who is really showing he can do it all. Did I mention he also had 5 catches for 55 yards plus the aforementioned touchdown? Or how about pancaking a defensive tackle?
The kid is a baller, plain and simple.
Cam Akers made it clear on Saturday that he is perfectly capable of being the bell-cow back for this offense. I am not sure how realistic it is to expect 40+ touches out of him every game; but he is clearly going to garner the majority of the workload moving forward. And honestly, I think that approach probably gives this offense the best chance to be successful.
Time and time again on Saturday, Akers kept this offense on track. Whether it was getting a first down, scoring a touchdown or simply gaining yards on a busted play; his ability to consistently absorb contact, fall forward and gain yards was invaluable.
With this offense being so polarizing, Akers strong and steady presence gives you something you can really rely on moving forward. That too, is invaluable for an offense that relies so heavily on negating negative plays and staying on script.
Odds are this is Cam’s last season with the Seminoles, as he is sure to make a fortune at the pro-level. That means you can expect a motivated Akers as this is deemed his “money year” to impress NFL scouts. You take that fire to succeed and combine it with volume and usage and you begin to see the potential for a very special year for an incredibly special player.
Cam Akers came to Florida State as a heralded five-star recruit and the best running back recruit in the nation. He came in his first year and broke Dalvin Cook’s freshman rushing record. Cam Akers is indeed a special player.
The teams he has played on however have been anything but. And it may be too early to tell but this year’s team doesn’t seem to be any different. It really is tough to watch a generational athlete, like Akers, be part of such a forgettable stretch in program history.
But those who have watched him play these last three seasons won’t soon forget the talented individual that he is. His performance on Saturday truly was inspiring. Let’s hope we see more of it moving forward.