The 2013 BCS National Champions will be getting their 2014 campaign underway in Dallas on August 30th. After winning its first national championship in 14 years last season, Florida State looks to have a very good shot at defending its title. Though quarterback Jameis Winston will garner most of the attention, FSU looks to be solid from top to bottom as Noled Out continues its position previews.
Florida State is loaded with talent at just about every position, but the FSU defense in 2014 will certainly be headlined by the secondary. The Seminoles are losing a pair of NFL-bound starters in All-American cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and safety Terrence Brooks to graduation, but may actually be more loaded this season deep in the defensive backfield. Last season, Florida State yielded fewer points-per-game than any school in the country and that was largely thanks to a secondary that led the nation with 26 interceptions. With what looks to be one of the nation’s best secondaries, here are the names to know for Florida State in 2014:
The Headliner
P.J. Williams, Junior (Cornerback)
Lamarcus Joyner may be gone, but P.J. Williams could take his place as the next great Florida State cornerback. Williams is not only a lock-down corner, but a very good tackler as well. Williams finished with three interceptions a season ago which included one in the fourth quarter of the BCS National Championship against Auburn to set up a critical FSU touchdown. Williams also had an interception return for a score a season ago against Boston College. Williams not only has great ball skills, but possesses great closing speed in addition to being a very physical corner.
The Sleeper
Tyler Hunter, Junior (Safety)
While Florida State has multiple members of its secondary receiving national attention in the preseason, redshirt junior Tyler Hunter has become somewhat of a lost man for the Seminoles. As a sophomore in 2012, Hunter tied NFL first round selection, Xavier Rhodes for the team-lead in interceptions and was off to a stellar start in 2013 before a neck injury in September sidelined him for the year. As the veteran in the secondary, Hunter will provide the Seminoles with much-needed leadership and versatility.
The Future
Jalen Ramsey, Sophomore (Safety)
Former 5-star recruit Jalen Ramsey burst onto the scene for Florida State in 2013, finishing with 46 total tackles, a sack and an interception that set up Florida State’s first score of the season. Ramsey started all 14 games for the Seminoles as a freshman, playing both cornerback and safety. At 6’1″ and 205 pounds, Ramsey is a ball-hawk and despite being a freshman a season ago, was rarely caught out of position. With at least two more seasons in Tallahassee, the sky is the limit for the sophomore from Tennessee.
Other Names to Know
Ronald Darby, Junior (Cornerback)
A former highly-recruited corner out of Maryland, Ronald Darby showed tremendous improvement in his second season at Florida State. Darby finished with a pair of interceptions and excelled in man coverage. With Lamarcus Joyner now in the NFL, Darby will get an even bigger opportunity to prove what he can do on the field as a starter in 2014.
Nate Andrews, Sophomore (Safety)
Despite being used primarily as a reserve in 2013, Nate Andrews had one of the better seasons of any Florida State defensive player. As a freshman, Andrews led Florida State with four interceptions and tied Lamarcus Joyner for the team-lead with three forced fumbles. Andrews showed great instincts and versatility, lining up everywhere from safety to linebacker. A hard-working 210-pound kid with a great IQ on and off the field, Andrews should once again be a major contributor for the Seminoles.
Nick Waisome, Senior (Cornerback)
Nick Waisome saw his playing time significantly cut as a junior in 2013, but should bring Florida State valuable experience as one of the few seniors on the defensive side of the ball. While Waisome failed to make a huge impact in 2013, he started all 14 games for the 2012 squad that won the school’s first ACC championship in seven years. While Waisome is not the most complete corner, he has great speed and covers a lot of ground in the secondary.
Overview
While Florida State has depth issues up front defensively and a lack of experience at the linebacker position, the secondary for the Seminoles is nothing short of rock-solid. P.J. Williams and Jalen Ramsey are each All-American caliber talents while the other two starters — Tyler Hunter and Ronald Darby — look to certainly have NFL futures. The secondary is not only loaded with talent, but deep as Nick Waisome and Nate Andrews are each capable of stepping in without FSU missing a beat. Incoming freshman Trey Marshall could also be a help for Florida State in 2014 as could sophomore cornerback Marquez White and redshirt junior safety Lamarcus Brutus. Though the Seminoles have a talent-laden roster, one would be hard-pressed to find a more solid contingent than in the secondary.
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