It was the side of the ball where many said Florida State had to improve in 2015 and so far, the defense has. Though the competition hasn’t been the greatest through two games, the Seminoles are giving up only 15 points-per-game and a meager 146.5 yards-per-game through the air.
It’s no surprise that junior cornerback Jalen Ramsey has been lights out in coverage or that senior linebackers Terrance Smith and Reggie Northrup are among the team leaders in tackles. What has been a surprise early on this season however, has been the way some of the lesser known defensive players have performed.
Three Seminoles have two or more tackles for loss this season, but none of the three constitute usual suspects. The leader in the category with 2.5 is redshirt sophomore linebacker Ro’Derrick Hoskins. Hoskins has 9 total tackles through two games, which is the total he had all last season.
With two tackles for loss on the year is defensive tackle Giorgio Newberry. The problem throughout the career of Newberry has been finding a place to play. Newberry came to FSU as a defensive end where he played in 2012 before converting to tight end in 2013 and then moving inside last season. Perhaps Newberry is reaping the rewards of finally playing the same position in consecutive years.
While Ramsey is renowned for being a lock-down defensive back at one corner position, perhaps the most pleasant surprise has been the FSU junior manning the other cornerback position. Marquez White, a former basketball player for the Seminoles, battled converted tailback Ryan Green for that starting position this spring. Both played well, but White secured the spot when Green suffered a season-ending separated shoulder late last month.
White played a vital role in Florida State’s 34-14 victory over South Florida on Saturday, coming up with an interception in the end zone — the first for FSU this season — to thwart a USF scoring opportunity. White however, has not only been solid in pass coverage, but has proved capable of coming up and stopping the run. White has a tackle for loss in each of the Seminoles’ first two games.
Florida State will face its stiffest challenge on Friday as it begins ACC play at Boston College. The Eagles have combined for 100 points through their first two games, but both came against FCS opponents.
Still, Boston College put up 34 points in FSU’s last trip to Chestnut Hill, which was the most the Seminoles allowed during a 2013 national championship campaign in which it yielded the fewest points-per-game in the country. Early on in 2015, FSU has gotten contributions all throughout the lineup on defense and for the Seminoles to maintain momentum into ACC play, that’s a trend that will need to continue.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
