Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Seminoles look to future
Many freshmen likely to see action Saturday
TALLAHASSEE — The light at the end of the proverbial tunnel may seem dim for the Florida State football team at the moment.
But Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher and his players believe the pitfalls they’ve endured while gaining firsthand experience could eventually translate into success for the FSU program in the near future.
The Seminoles (3-6) will start true freshmen in quarterback James Blackman and running back Cam Akers for the fourth consecutive game when FSU hosts Delaware State on Saturday at noon in Doak Campbell Stadium.
Other freshmen like defensive backs Hamsah Nasirildeen, Cyrus Fagan and Stanford Samuels III, receiver D.J. Matthews, defensive end Joshua Kaindoh and defensive tackle Marvin Wilson will likely also get some action as the Seminoles continue to cultivate their young, talented players into the mix.
“We have a chance to have a very good football team if they keep developing, and our attitude and culture keep developing with it, and they take it to the next level,” Fisher said of his youngsters earlier this week.
Fisher and former Seminoles like offensive lineman Cam Erving, who made a recent visit to the school, recall seasons like 2011 where FSU was a top-5 team in the first two weeks before injuries to players like quarterback EJ Manuel led to a 9-4 finish.
Or, in 2012 when FSU “let one slip away” to Florida, as Fisher put it, missing a longshot opportunity for the Seminoles to contend for a national championship. FSU finished with a win in the Orange Bowl, setting the stage for FSU’s 2013 national championship season and 29-consecutive wins spanning from 2012-2014.
FSU hopes history can repeat itself in a positive sense.
“Sometimes we all got knocked down,” Fisher said. “We had to go through some tough times to get to where we were going.”
Next season, quarterback Deondre Francois and running back Jacques Patrick could return to their starting roles they had at the beginning of this season before knee injuries vaulted Blackman and Akers to starting opportunities.
Francois hopes to return this spring from a seasonending patellar tear, likely sparking a quarterback competition next season between him and Blackman, while Akers and Patrick can continue to build on a running back tandem they have developed before Patrick was sidelined for two weeks following a minor knee procedure.
“There is a silver lining that they've been out there when the lights are on and when it mattered,” Fisher said of his young players.
Several Seminoles have carved out significant playing time on the defensive end, like safety Hamsah Nasirildeen, who has started two consecutive games and was second on the team with 10 tackles at Clemson last week.
Both Kaindoh and Samuels — considered top five players at the positions nationally in the last recruiting cycle — have appeared in all nine games for the Seminoles this season. Kaindoh has recorded three quarterback hurries and a tackle for loss, while Samuels notched his first career interception against Miami.
Receiver D.J. Matthews has emerged as FSU’s punt return specialist in the last three games while safety Cyrus Fagan has seen action in three games this season after recovering from a preseason knee injury.
The Seminoles are also excited for the development of Wilson, who was rated the nation’s best defensive tackle last year, and has appeared in eight games this season.
Senior defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi says Wilson’s work ethic may be the most productive of all the freshmen on the team. From working out on an off day like Sunday or getting some work in on Monday mornings, to watching “as much film as he possibly can” before games, Nnadi sees the potential in Wilson.
“When it comes, he wants to be ready for that moment,” Nnadi said of Wilson. “And for him, he’s got a great future here.”
The Seminoles may be focused on winning their final three games to become bowl eligible, but they have reasons to be excited for seasons to come.