Florida State vs. Miami: Three Players To Watch As Seminoles Push For Third Straight

Who do the Seminoles need to play a big role on Saturday to take down the Hurricanes?

The game was not quite reminiscent of their 2013 matchup, but the Seminoles survived their trip to Pittsburgh after a shaky first-half performance. Florida State was without some of its most impactful talent, which slowed their efforts considerably, but it did little to change the outcome. Norvell and the ‘Noles left town with a win, a clinched berth in the ACC Championship Game, and their ninth victory of the season. Now, three regular season games are what stand between the Seminoles and a return to the ACC conference championship game in Charlotte. 

After that, the ‘Noles are hoping their season continues in the College Football Playoff. Three games stand between the Seminoles and the realization of their 2023 goals, but none of that matters right now. The double square flags clad in red and black that are currently flying over the practice fields should tell you all you need to know. There’s a storm coming to Tallahassee, and it’s an all too familiar one.

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Mario Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes return to the brick house that Bowden built for the first time since the infamous “4th & 14” loss at the hands of Jordan Travis. Since that fateful evening in 2021, the fourth-ranked ‘Noles have clawed their way back into title contention behind the play of a Heisman-hopeful quarterback, a stellar wide receiver corps, and a stifling defense. 

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are searching for some semblance of an identity. Miami opened the season 4-0 with a statement victory over Texas A&M, but things have taken a sharp decline since. They’ve lost three of their last 5 games, and their two wins came In dramatic, overtime fashion. These two teams are on strikingly different paths in 2023, but (like I said) none of that matters right now. This is a rivalry game. Perhaps, one of the most bitter rivalries in the sport.

Expectations and projections have little to no role to play in a game like this. It’s about brother versus brother, neighbors turned enemies, friends turned rivals, and a sheer disdain for the other sideline. The only thing that matters is what goes down within the bricks on Saturday and absolutely nothing else. Florida State will need its stars to shine if they wish to continue their climb. Luckily for them, their roster has no shortage of star power, and we’re going to take a look at three players in positions to make impact performances against the Hurricanes.

1. Conrad Hussey, Defensive Back

Speaking of stars shining, this particularly young star has been shining brightly throughout Florida State’s 2023 campaign. True freshman defensive back Conrad Hussey is a newcomer for the ‘Noles, but that hasn’t stopped him from making an instant impact. The former four-star recruit out of St. Thomas Aquinas was, at one point in the season, PFF’s highest-graded freshman defender in the country. He recorded his first career interception against Pitt last week in addition to a forced fumble and a solo tackle. Through nine appearances in as many games with the Seminoles, the young defensive backs boasts 12 tackles (6 of which are solo), 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 passes defended and 1 interception.

Hussey will be getting his first taste of the Miami-Florida State rivalry come Saturday. In his words, “It's a pretty big game in my opinion because there's a lot of old friends that we've got on that team…” The young safety will have to put those friendships aside, however, because he’ll be presented with the opportunity of defending against quarterback Tyler Van Dyke. The Hurricane quarterback has thrown 11 interceptions on the season with 4 multi-interception games so far. Many have characterized the veteran as “trying to do too much” or “not comfortable in his offense.” Regardless, his knack for turning the ball over is something the ‘Noles will look to exploit on Saturday, and Hussey could be on the receiving end if he keeps up his ball-hawk ways. 

2. Kalen DeLoach, Linebacker

Whereas the defensive secondary receives the love for their and the defensive line receives love for their seemingly endless talent, it’s the linebackers who are statistically leading the way for the ‘Noles. Kalen DeLoach, Tatum Bethune, and DJ Lundy are the top tacklers for the Seminoles' defense, combining for a total of 130 tackles so far this season. This week, the nod on this list goes to DeLoach. We covered him already, but his accomplishments since have warranted another look at the veteran linebacker. The senior is leading the way for the Florida State defense in a variety of categories. He leads the team with 49 total tackles. 25 solo tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles (tied), 1 fumble recovery (tie), and 1 fumble recovery for a touchdown.

DeLoach’s play this season has far exceeded any expectations but it has been crucial in achieving a 9-0 record. Beyond the box score, he has delivered some of his best performances in the most opportune of times. For example, DeLoach strip-sacked Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik before the Tigers had the opportunity to extend their lead, and returned that fumble for a touchdown. Without that play, I’m not so sure the ‘Noles leave Death Valley with a victory. Time and again, DeLoach has made the exact play his defense has needed from him, and they’ll need him against Miami.

DeLoach’s innate ability to provide pressure in an opponent’s backfield will go a long way in both bringing the Miami rushers down for losses and speeding up the quarterback’s time to throw. The Hurricanes boast the 30th best run game in the country with an average of 176.6 rushing yards per game. Junior running back Henry Parrish Jr. leads the way with 469 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground for the ‘Canes, thus far, and he’s averaging 7.1 yards per carry during any games. Florida State’s leading linebacker has also proven his ability to force turnovers, and UM’s -4 turnover ratio presents a prime opportunity to let DeLoach do what he does best.

Bottom line, DeLoach has had a fantastic 2023 campaign, thus far. He, like so many performers on the defense, has been extremely consistent for the ‘Noles. If his past outings are anything to go off of, DeLoach plays his best football when the lights are the brightest, and what brighter lights are there than your final game against the rival Miami Hurricanes? 

3. Keon Coleman, Wide Receiver

Moving our way over to the offense side of the ball, let’s talk about another well-known name for the Seminoles. You’d be hard-pressed to find something that hasn’t already been said about wide receiver Keon Coleman. The Michigan State transfer has made the most of his first eight appearances with the Seminoles. Despite missing the game against Pittsburgh, Coleman still leads the ‘Noles in all major receiving categories. So far, he has 38 receptions for 538 yards for 9 touchdowns.

Much like DeLoach, Coleman has also come through for the ‘Noles in big moments and he’s put up some fantastic highlights in the process. From the one handed catch and 72-yard punt return against Syracuse to the game-winning touchdown against Clemson, the veteran wide receiver has garnered the attention of the nation and quickly climbed the boards of nearly every mock draft in the process. This week, he’ll get his first look at the Florida State-Miami rivalry. If he’s given the green light, it could be memorable for the explosive wide receiver. The kind of memorable that you won’t want to miss out on. 

Florida State still has a long way to go before locking a spot in the playoff or even their trip to Charlotte. With three games remaining on the schedule, the 'Noles are tasked with surviving unscathed, but that's easier said than done. There's no downplaying the importance of this week's matchup. The Hurricanes and Seminoles have a long history of playing with national title implications on the line with a handful of those games coming at the expense of the 'Noles. Talent on the Florida State roster, the likes of DeLoach, Hussey and Coleman, will have a lot to do with Saturday's outcome. Despite Miami's recent struggles, this game is far from a walk in the park. It's a college football rivalry, after all, and it wouldn't be college football if it didn't have the potential to get dramatic. 

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