Taylor grabs 2 interceptions
Cornerback had none entering Saturday’s game
Serving as the starting cornerback opposite Tarvarus McFadden during each of FSU’s 11 games this season, Levonta Taylor has had an underrated season — at least statistically.
His performance during Florida State’s 38-22 win over Florida Saturday changed that perspective.
The sophomore had the first multiple-interception game by a Seminole since Jacob Pugh against Notre Dame in 2014, snagging a pair of first-half interceptions — the first two of his FSU career.
“There isn’t a guy that competes any harder than that guy,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said of Taylor. “That guy puts his heart and soul out there every time he goes to practice.”
Stats such as interceptions are hardly the best indicator of a cornerback’s performance. For instance, this season Taylor had allowed only 33.3 percent of passes thrown his way to be completed entering Saturday.
That being said, Taylor was thrilled to have the opportunity to make a more noticeable impact in such an important game.
“I’ve always wanted my first career interception to come in a big game,” Taylor said. I’m happy it came against the Gators like this.”
Samuels shines
As the season has progressed, a true freshman has broken into FSU’s defensive rotation. None have been as consistent as Stanford Samuels III.
Samuels, whose father played cornerback at FSU from 1999-2003, has followed in his father’s footsteps, emerging as a key contributor in the secondary early in his collegiate career.
During Saturday’s win, Samuels came up with a sack of UF quarterback Feleipe Franks, the first of the Seminole’s career.
Samuels also earned two interceptions this season, tying for the team high, and has four pass break-ups.
“He’s just a talented guy. He’s really mature, understands how to compete,” Fisher said. “He has a chance to be a really good player.”
Key blocks
For the second consecutive week, FSU’s special teams unit came up big with a blocked kick.
FSU defensive tackle Wally Aime broke through this time, blocking an extra point near the end of the first half against Florida.
Aime’s block was the sixth for FSU this season, tying the Seminoles for the most nationally with Northern Illinois and Virginia Tech.
Bad blood
Bickering after plays resulted in eight unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, including three sets of offsetting unsportsmanlike penalties between the two teams.
The most notable of these came in the third quarter on a FSU punt when sophomore linebacker Dontavious Jackson committed a pair of personal fouls on the same play, an unnecessary roughness call during the play and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the play.
As a result of the two fouls, Jackson was immediately ejected from the game.
Fisher was a bit unclear about the circumstances surrounding Jackson’s exit.
“They said he got them both on that play, but what I don’t understand is that he wasn’t the one that should have been called. … I won’t know until I see the video,” Fisher said.