LB BLAKE NICHELSON
This is a Florida State defense under the guidance of coordinator Tony White that has been inconsistent for much of the year. The Seminoles are implementing a new 3-3-5 scheme that they have not run before.
Coach White mentioned in a previous press conference that the players are sometimes two or three yards out of position, which allows explosive plays. This angered the fan base because it looked like his defense checked out after the rumblings of the UCLA job happened.
Even though Florida State lost to Clemson by a score of 24-10 last week, the defense wasn't to blame as they kept the Tigers pretty much contained after the long first drive. The one aspect that the Seminoles will have to focus on this week with Virginia Tech is their ability to run the football with quarterback Kyron Drones and running back Marcellous Hawkins.
This means that the linebackers have to play up to the standard of coming up to stop the run. Defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. has consistently taken on double and even triple teams, but the linebackers have to tackle in space. This is a contest where junior Blake Nichelson has to lock in after his seven-tackle performance against Clemson (per ESPN statistics).