Fact or Fiction: It's time to panic at Florida State
National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
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1) It’s time to panic already at FSU.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Nah. Let’s settle down. Yes it’s going to be a rough year with that offensive line and James Blackman as apparently the only viable option at quarterback but this is what Mike Norvell inherited. Willie Taggart didn’t land a quarterback for two recruiting cycles and there are a lot of holes on the offensive depth chart. The defense will be solid but this won’t be a good year overall and Norvell has a long way to go. But it’s too early to freak out.
Gorney’s take: FACT. I have faith that Mike Norvell is going to make this program good again but that was a really bad performance against an average football team that’s in the second year of a complete rebuild. After the first series, which was probably practiced 100 times leading up to the opener, Florida State did not score a touchdown all game. Dating back to last season, it’s the third game in a row FSU couldn’t get out of the teens in scoring. The quarterback position is average at best and the offensive line is getting a little better but a whole lot more improvement is needed. I watched Florida State and then I watched Clemson and it looked like two different levels of football. The Seminoles as a legit national contender again? That seems far, far off and that is why it’s really a time of concern for the program.
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2) This is the tip of the iceberg for college football upsets this season.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Georgia Tech beats Florida State but based on the way the Seminoles looked that may not be an upset. But what about Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas losing to Sun Belt teams? These aren’t powerhouse programs in the Big 12 – although Iowa State was ranked in the Top 25 – but we are going to see some crazy upsets this season with limited practice and no home field advantage. Welcome to the 2020 season and we are so happy to be watching.
Gorney’s take: FACT. This upcoming weekend slate might not be filled with upsets but they’re coming. Players are going to be in and out because of injuries and now coronavirus or contact tracing and so teams have to deal with another entire layer of uncertainty heading through this season. The Big 12 was embarrassed on Saturday but Louisiana, Arkansas State and Coastal Carolina are decent teams. Still, these should have been warmups. Instead, with no home-field advantage, all kinds of uncertainty and limited practice time, this season is going to get nuts.
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3) Clemson has the most young talent in college football.
Farrell’s take: FACT. The future at Clemson is ridiculous from quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to defensive linemen Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy, defensive back Andrew Booth and some guys ready to emerge such as DE KJ Henry, WRs Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson. Clemson is loaded for a run at the national title but beyond this season things look good for continued ACC dominance for years to come.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Alabama’s roster is also loaded with young talent but a serious argument could be made that Clemson’s roster of younger players – sophomores and freshmen – might be a top -15 team nationally as well. If you take Uiagalelei, RB Demarkcus Bowman, Ngata and Ladson at receiver, Fred Davis at cornerback along with Booth, Bresee, Murphy ... not many whole teams are beating that underclassmen group in college football. Watching Clemson in the opener, it looked like the Tigers were unstoppable and the depth there is just unreal, maybe something we haven’t seen in college football in a long time.
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