Florida State at Boston College: Three Players to Watch
If I had a nickel for every time a hurricane threatened the kickoff time of a Florida State football game this season, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
Hurricane Lee is barreling towards the New England area, and there remains a level of uncertainty pertaining to the status of Saturday’s game. For the Seminoles, however, it’s business as usual. Now sitting at No. 3, Mike Norvell and his team are unmistakably under the national spotlight, and that spotlight burns even brighter as the ‘Noles prepare to open up conference play on the road against the Boston College Eagles.
READ MORE: Kickoff Time, TV Channel Announced For Florida State's Crucial Road Game Against Clemson
Boston College is pulling out every stop for their noon matchup against the Seminoles. Saturday’s game has been chosen as their annual “Red Bandanna” game, a tradition started in 2014 to honor 9/11 hero Welles Crowther. The numbers would tell you the Eagles have struggled in “Red Bandanna” games, having gone 4-5 overall since the tradition’s inception. However, if you’re superstitious (like I am), then you’re wary of the extra motivation the game’s meaning could provide the BC football team with.
Then again, you could just be wary about the fact that this weekend’s game fits the mold of a “trap game.” With a face-off against their “white whale” in Clemson looming around the corner, FSU has the potential to fall into the trap in their ACC opener. Factor in the high winds and heavy rains from a neighboring hurricane, and there’s a potential for things to get crazy in Chestnut Hill, after all.
What does any of that really mean when it comes to the outcome of Saturday’s contest? Most likely nothing, but it sure does make college football uniquely entertaining.
Last week, impact players wide receiver Keon Coleman and running back Trey Benson lit up the score sheet (both of whom were listed in last week’s “three players to watch” article *self five*). Most notably, Benson rushed for three touchdowns en route to a dismantling of the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. This week, the ‘Noles will look to carry that momentum into a matchup against a Boston College team that has put forth lackluster performances against inferior opponents throughout their first two games.
There’s no shortage of talent on the Florida State roster, and it stands to reason that a host of players could very well “pop off” this weekend. With that in mind, let’s take a look at three players who could position themselves for a big day against the Eagles.
1. Jaheim Bell, Tight End
When tight end Jaheim Bell announced his intentions to transfer from South Carolina, he immediately rose to the top of every major contender’s wish list. The 6’3”, 239-pound tight end possesses a unique skill set that makes him a versatile weapon on offense both through the air and on the ground.
The combination of his size and speed allowed the non-traditional tight end to rack up 56 catches for 757 yards and seven touchdowns and carry the ball 80 times for 301 yards and three touchdowns. Bell’s abilities and production earned him the No. 1 and No. 8 overall player in this year’s transfer portal (per Seminoles.com). As you know by now, Bell elected to play for Florida State prior to the 2023 season, and he made an instant impact for the ‘Noles on offense.
Since joining Florida State, Jaheim Bell has cemented a role with the starting offense. Against LSU, Bell reeled in two receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown and ran the ball once for a 4 yard touchdown. The matchup against Southern Miss didn’t yield much for the tight end in the box score, but his presence remained a constant threat that defenses must account for.
When it comes to lining up against the Boston College defense, Bell’s versatility may give the Florida State offense an extra option should the conditions limit the passing game. BC’s defense gives up roughly 215 rushing yards per game. FSU’s corps of running backs are more than capable of exploiting that on their own, but the involvement of Bell adds an extra wrinkle for the offense to experiment with.
Jaheim Bell is a unicorn, and when OC Alex Atkins and the offense fully flesh out his role, it’ll be a scary sight for opposing defensive coordinators. If his use throughout the first two weeks of the season is any inclination, they’re well on their way. Keep an eye on just how Bell is utilized in Chestnut Hill this weekend.
2. Tatum Bethune, Linebacker
Tatum Bethune wasted no time starting off his second year with FSU on the right foot. He made the marquee tackle in the game against LSU when quarterback Jayden Daniels attempted to leap through the middle of the defense and quickly met the brick wall that was Bethune. The linebacker's WWE-style takedown may serve as the headline highlight for his year thus far, but his defensive production through two weeks has been more than noteworthy.
The redshirt senior was all over the field in the matchup against the Tigers. He recorded nine total tackles (three solo and six assisted); add on the solo tackle he earned against Southern Miss and that brings him to an even ten heading into Week 3. Bethune is, without a doubt, the clear-cut centerpiece of the linebacker corps, and the middle of the field belongs to him. The veteran is a pillar of the FSU defense, and his command of the position group (alongside fellow veteran Kalen DeLoach) is something the 'Noles will need to lean on all season long. Let's see if Bethune can find his groove and his will on the Boston College offense come Saturday.
3. Jarrian Jones, Defensive Back
We touched on his counterpart Renardo Green in the last "Three players" article, but after a performance like the one we saw against USM, it was only right that we highlight a member of the secondary that currently ranks among the best in the nation.
Jarrian Jones opened the season with a strong five tackle performance against the fifth-ranked LSU Tigers. He then followed that busy day up with an electrifying pick-six in the home opener against Southern Miss. Jones has constantly been tested through the air by opposing quarterbacks over the course of his career, and although he has found himself on the losing end of some of those battles in the past, the same cannot be said for his performances this season.
According to PFF College, defensive back Jarrian Jones currently sits atop the nation as the highest-graded cornerback this season at 88.5. Under new DB coach Patrick Surtain, the Florida State secondary ranks 4th in the ACC in opposing passer efficiency ratings, holding opposing quarterbacks to a rating of 104.65.
Jones will face talented quarterbacks and receivers in the weeks to come, but his play in the first few weeks of the 2023 season has allowed him to emerge as a key component of this Seminole secondary. It should be exciting to see if he can continue this high level of play heading into the matchup against Boston College.
While there remains a level of uncertainty as it pertains to the nature of this game, there is a fair level of certainty that Florida State is a talent-rich squad this season. The 'Noles have impact players at every position, all of whom are capable of taking over a game That talent is exactly what FSU will need if it hopes for a playoff berth later this year. As for now, keep a weathered eye on which impact players make their presence known against the Boston College Eagles later this week.
READ MORE: Mike Norvell Provides Injury Updates On Multiple Florida State Starters
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