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FSU football: 3 keys to victory for the Noles versus Wake Forest

By Taylor Devers

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 21: Wide Receiver Keon Coleman #4 of the 4th ranked Florida State Seminoles before the start of the game against the 16th ranked Duke Blue Devils at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on October 21, 2023 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 21: Wide Receiver Keon Coleman #4 of the 4th ranked Florida State Seminoles before the start of the game against the 16th ranked Duke Blue Devils at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on October 21, 2023 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Florida State football and coaches players arrive for the fifth FSU spring football practice of the 2023 season on Thursday, March 23.Braden Fiske 1 Of 1 /

Neutralize the Running Game

If fans had one concern about Florida State’s defense, it would have to be their ability to stop the run. The Seminoles rank No. 74 in rushing yards allowed (149.3 rushing yards per game).

In their last contest against the Duke Blue Devils, Florida State allowed 197 rushing yards. While the Seminoles’ defensive unit was better at neutralizing the running game in the second half, FSU has to assert its dominance early against Wake Forest on the road.

The Demon Deacons have a two-headed monster at running back with Demond Claiborne (99 carries for 471 yards and five touchdowns) and Justice Ellison (76 carries and 348 yards).

In the Seminoles’ 31-21 loss to Wake Forest last season, Ellison finished the contest with 18 carries for 114 yards and one touchdown (his only 100-yard performance of the 2022 season).

Florida State has one of the better defensive tackle position rooms in the country with redshirt senior Fabien Lovett Sr., redshirt senior Braden Fiske, junior Darrell Jackson Jr. (please NCAA… get his waiver situation fixed!), and redshirt sophomore Joshua Farmer. As a collective unit, they need to make this Wake Forest offense one-dimensional.

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