FSU Football: Several Nole players on national award watchlists

As FSU Football hits its stride in preseason camp, we take a look a Seminoles on awards watchlists and the probability they bring them home.

With how low the number of Seminoles with preseason buzz is, we are going to jump right into it with a local hero for this year’s garnet and gold;

Amari Gainer- Bednarik Award, Butkus Award

Gainer comes into this season with significant hype around his name. This is most shocking to me as he played fewer snaps due to the scheme change and has since changed his position.

His versatility is an asset, however, as it significantly increases the quality of both linebacker positions. In his two seasons at FSU, Gainer has 134 tackles, 65 of which were solo tackles, also adding four sacks and three forced fumbles.

Last year, despite his limited usage, he was one of the best players on the team via PFF grades.

The linebacker position has been heavily criticized, and question marks surrounding youth, injuries, and position changes all circulate the position.

It also doesn’t imbue me with confidence that many educated people surrounding the team say that Jermaine Johnson is the best player on the defense, yet he hasn’t been named to a single award watchlist.

This news doesn’t bode well for the Bednarik Award as it applies to the best overall defensive player in FBS, and Gainer has to compete with Johnson and a litany of other transfers to be the best defender on his team. Gainer also has Derek Stingley Jr. to deal with, and he would be my favorite to win the award.

The Butkus is presented to the best linebacker and has quite a tradition here. So can Gainer achieve this award; Maybe, at best. PFF doesn’t consider him within the top eight in the runnings of the award, and I don’t know what he can do to change any minds on a defense that, at its best, will help the ‘Noles win six or seven games.