FSU football: Darrell Jackson Jr. will make first appearance in postseason

FSU football asserted its dominance on the defensive side of the football as the Seminoles defeated the Louisville Cardinals by a score of 16-6 to capture its first ACC Championship crown since 2014.

What an exciting time to be a Florida State Seminole fan!

Florida State battled through high levels of adversity when they played true freshman quarterback Brock Glenn in place of redshirt junior Tate Rodemaker, who was out for the game due to concussion protocol.

However, that did not stop the defense from having its best game of the season where they limited the Louisville Cardinals’ offense to 188 total yards and made veteran quarterback Jack Plummer uncomfortable all night long. He completed 14 of his 36 passes for 111 yards and one interception.

The defensive line for the Seminoles was an issue all game for the Cardinals as Florida State combined to have seven sacks and fourteen tackles for loss. It is a scary sight to witness when Jared Verse and Patrick Payton are coming off the edge to rush the passer, while defensive tackles Braden Fiske, Fabien Lovett Sr., and Joshua Farmer neutralize the running game.

While this defense is not considered a perfect product, they step up when it matters most. Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller has done a remarkable job of implementing a game plan for his unit that showcases their strengths.

Just when you thought the rich could not get any richer, Florida State is now returning its defensive tackle transfer Darrell Jackson Jr. this postseason. Earlier this season, Jackson Jr’s waiver was denied by the NCAA. The veteran transferred in from the Miami Hurricanes this offseason. He had previously transferred from Maryland to Miami. The NCAA implemented its two-time transfer ruling in January where it forces undergraduate transfers with two-time transfers to sit out for the semester.

However, Jackson Jr. transferred to Florida State to be closer to his ailing mother two weeks before the NCAA even put the ruling into effect. The Seminoles have attempted several times to appeal the waiver decision, especially considering that North Carolina wide receiver Tez Walker was able to get his waiver overturned, but the NCAA has rejected the appeal.

Since it is now the end of the fall semester, the talented defender will now be eligible to play in the postseason. FSU fans will now await the decision of the College Football Playoff committee to figure out their postseason destination. However, this is a huge boost for a Seminole defense that is already playing lights out at the defensive tackle position.