CFB: What to Watch for – Florida State vs Georgia Tech
By Rory Daniels
College Football returns to Ireland for its annual curtain-raiser this Saturday in the shape of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
This year, it will feature an aggrieved Florida State team who narrowly, and controversially, missed out on a final four berth last year. On the other side, a Georgia Tech team, buoyed by Brent Key’s leadership and keen to prove the bookies, who have them 11.5 point underdogs, wrong.
Here’s my primer for what to keep an eye on as we finally sit down for a long-awaited, competitive College Football game.
Battle of redemption at quarterback
As so often in College Football, the quarterback duel is likely to take headline billing. Both teams have QBs looking to add an exclamation point to their winding career paths. For the Seminoles, DJ Uiagalelei will replace Jordan Travis and returns to the ACC, having failed to live up to his 5-star status at Clemson. A rebuilding year at Oregon State has given him another shot, this time at FSU.
It was a similar story for Haynes King, a four-star recruit who never established himself as a starter with Texas A&M. He’s enjoyed more success with the Yellow Jackets, even if turnovers have remained an issue. King threw 15 picks last year, and this impressive Seminoles secondary will fancy their chances of snagging an interception come gameday.
This is a big test for Uiagalelei and a chance to put his Clemson era behind him. However, could King derail that as early as week 1?
How dangerous is the Seminole pass rush?
It will be tough to replace Braden Fiske and Jared Verse along the Florida State defensive line; however, they do look to have the personnel capable of doing so. The up-and-coming star of the group is undoubtedly edge rusher Patrick Payton. He had 7 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss in 2023 and looks to step into a full-time role in 2024.
On the other side will be Marvin Jones Jr, the 5-star recruit who transferred from Georgia this offseason. He had 5.5 sacks in two years with the Bulldogs but never secured a starting spot in what is a perenially loaded position group in Athens.
Those two could be the best edge-rushing duo in the nation and will look to exploit a Georgia Tech offensive line group that earned a pass-blocking grade of 64.5 from PFF. However, the Yellow Jackets o-line is considered a top-10 unit by CFB guru Phil Steele and only allowed 15 sacks in 2023. Can they give Haynes King enough time to keep the offense moving in Dublin?
Can Georgia Tech's receiving depth test experienced FSU secondary?
As much as Georgia Tech may want to establish the run with Jamal Haynes, they will need to attack through the air if they are to keep pace with a National Championship contender like FSU. In fairness, the wide receiver room may possess the best depth of any position on the Yellow Jackets roster.
As a freshman, Eric Singleton Jr led the team in receiving yards with 714 in 2023. That was enough to earn him freshman All-American status with multiple media outlets. Across from Singleton, Chase Lane will look to establish himself after some early season promise in 2023 was curtailed by injury.
The big question mark is what role Leo Blackburn can play. Now in his fourth season, injuries have derailed him at every turn so far. His 6’5 frame gives the Yellow Jackets something different to the receivers mentioned above, who all hover around the 6ft mark.
This is undoubtedly a talented group and will test the experienced Fentrell Cypress and uber-talented Azareye’h Thomas, who will play corner for the Seminoles. This will be one of the key battles to watch unfold come Saturday.
Can Alabama old boys carry Seminoles offense to victory?
Transfers have been the lifeblood of Mike Norvell’s Florida State renaissance. Two in particular were pivotal to the Seminoles’ unbeaten run in 2023: running back Trey Benson and wide receiver Keon Coleman. With their graduation to the NFL, the makeup of the skill positions on offense has significantly changed.
Once again, a couple of transfers could provide that spark, and both will arrive from Tuscaloosa. Running back Roydell Williams was a 4-star recruit who starred as a role player for the Crimson Tide. He only started two games in four seasons but ran for 1,165 yards at an average of over 5 yards per carry. His physical style should create holes in this Georgia Tech defensive line.
He is joined by teammate Malik Benson, who arrived in Alabama as a JUCO transfer. He had lofty expectations in an offense without a prominent star at the position. However, 13 passes caught for 162 yards was an underwhelming production for Benson. Perhaps the coach ‘Bama tried to poach Norvell, can make the most of the receiver’s track background and he becomes DJ Uiagalelei’s favourite target?
Rory-Joe Daniels
College Football & NFL Contributor
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.