1. Three things we can take away from FSU’s 2017 spring game
Because we have such a limited window into Florida State football in the spring, the tendency is to put too much weight on one watered-down scrimmage. When you consider the large number of players out with injuries, the odd personnel groupings, limitations on contact, and the fact that Jimbo Fisher and the coaching staff watered down the play-calling, it’s extremely difficult to draw any hard conclusions.
Nevertheless, sometimes a player or two flashes in the spring game (Jameis Winston in 2013 or Deondre Francois in 2016) and it gives you a clue into their potential. Here are three items I’m comfortable making a take on after Saturday.
* Derwin James is back – Saturday’s scrimmage removed any doubt that Derwin James might not be fully recovered from last season’s knee injury. He led everyone in tackles with seven, recorded two sacks, had another tackle for loss and broke up a pass on what would have been a fourth-down conversion.
“He had a big hit there. Deondre (Francois) made a really nice throw to (Gilbert) Henric, he’s one of our walk-on receivers and caught it for a first down -- he made a big hit and knocked it loose,” said Fisher after the spring game. “It was a really good play. I think he had a sack on the day. That’s the versatility, and I think that’s what he can play. He can move up, he can play in the back end, and that’s what you expect of him.”
More: Now healthy, Derwin James makes an impact upon his return
* Freshman Cam Akers is the real deal – All you had to do is look at his high school film to know that Cam Akers was a can’t-miss five-star recruit. Everything we’ve heard all spring is that he is as good as advertised, and Saturday didn’t disappoint. He led all rushers with 87 yards on 10 carries. More impressive than the stats was his uncanny vision, burst of speed and willingness to pound the ball when necessary to pick up tough yards. As hyped as Akers was when he signed, I never legitimately though he could potentially unseat Jacques Patrick as the starter in year one but now I'm not so sure.
* Brian Burns is going to wreak havoc this season – Last season, he led the nation in sacks for freshmen, and did so without starting a game. With DeMarcus Walker moving on to the NFL, Burns will likely start this fall and should see his playing time dramatically increase. From what we saw Saturday, his production should increase as well. There wasn’t an offensive lineman in the game that could match Burns’ determination and burst off the line of scrimmage. Assuming Josh Sweat is playing at full speed, opposing quarterbacks are not going to look forward to matching up with FSU this fall.
