Florida State at Wake Forest: Three Players To Watch As Seminoles Hit The Road
Flashback to this matchup over one year ago. The ‘Noles were undefeated at 4-0 and ranked within the top 25. Wake Forest was ranked #22 in the nation and coming off of a heartbreaking overtime loss to Clemson. The national media was riding high on Florida State’s success and both the Vegas odds and media pundits alike were picking them to win.
What transpired, however, was a 10-point Demon Deacon victory and a third consecutive win against the Seminoles for head coach Dave. Clawson’s squad. The heartbreaking home loss served as a reminder of the steps that still remained for Florida State before they could return to challenging for conference sovereignty and return to climbing the ladder of the national rankings.
READ MORE: Florida State To "Probably" Be Without Veteran Defensive Lineman Against Wake Forest
Florida State worked diligently all offseason long in an attempt to take those next steps. Across the board, the football program sought to enhance every aspect of the team that they believed would bring them up to par with the likes of perennial national contenders. Notable moves included changes to the coaching staff, additions to the roster, rigorous training regimens, and so on and so forth. Thus far, those enhancements have paid dividends, pushing FSU to its first 7-0 season since 2014. The ‘Noles currently control their own destiny within the ACC and are on the path towards claiming a seat at the playoff table, but there are still games to be played.
Don’t let the lack of immense national title implications fool you. Florida State’s upcoming contest against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons is very much a benchmark game for the program. If Mike Norvell and the ‘Noles wish to snap their three-game skid to Wake Forest, they’ll need to avoid the pitfalls of a slow start and rely on their most notable of enhancements: the overwhelming amount of talent on their roster.
1. Jared Verse, Defensive End
Look, I know I mentioned in a previous week’s article that I prefer not to repeat names on these lists, but some of these guys are impact players for a reason. Defensive end Jared Verse commends that level of respect and for good reason. His accomplishments from last year were listed in the “Three Players” article he was previously featured in, so let’s cut right to the chase.
He has accumulated 20 total tackles, 9 of which are solo, 2.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, 1 pass defended, and 1 fumble recovery. PFF has given him an average pass-rush grade of 80.4 and an average run-defense grade of 62.6. His presence along that defense line, whether it results in a statistic in the box score or not, is paramount to the success of both the entire defense’s pass rush and ability to clog up the run.
Against Wake Forest, Adam Fuller’s defense will need Verse to do what he does best: get in the backfield…fast. Combatting Wake’s “slow mesh” concept not only relies on disciplined play from the linebackers and defensive backs but pressure from the defensive line, as well. Constant pressure in the backfield will speed up the game and limit the time the quarterback will have to make decisions.
Put simply, a consistent defensive presence in the backfield means the “slow mesh” becomes not so slow. Verse has a prime opportunity to display his prowess because, as mentioned in the game preview, the Demon Deacons give up 4.5 sacks per game, which places them among the bottom five teams in college football.
Saturday’s game presents a favorable matchup for the future NFL Draft Pick. Keep a weathered eye on whether or not the highly-touted defensive lineman rises to the occasion.
2. Kyle Morlock, Tight End
Florida State’s passing game is one of the most dynamic in the country with the likes of Keon Coleman, Johnny Wilson, and Jaheim Bell lining up out wide. The combination of these receivers and more has produced an offense that averages 271.4 passing yards per game. FSU’s offense is already predicated on a heavy dosage of passing plays, but we could see even more action through the air against Wake Forest, who is giving up 238.6 passing yards per game.
Coleman, Wilson and Bell are obviously the likely suspects for big days, but there’s another receiving target that we have yet to mention. Tight end Kyle Morlock could see some increased production on Saturday against the porous Wake Forest pass defense.
Redshirt junior Kyle Morlock, the 6’6”, 239-pound tight end out of Georgia, initially attended D-II school Shorter College. While there, he earned all-American honors twice after recording 57 catches for 890 yards and 11 touchdowns in 24 games with the D-II school. Following the 2022 season, Morlock announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal and immediately garnered the attention of multiple Division 1, Power 5 programs. He was ranked the 19th overall player in this year’s portal cycle (Rivals) and received offers from Tennessee, LSU, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Auburn. Ultimately, Morlock elected to transfer to Florida State prior to the 2023 season.
Florida State’s high-profile receivers are obviously above Morlock in the pecking order, but he has made the most of his limited receptions. Though seven appearances, the young tight end has accumulated 11 receptions (6th most on the team) for 111 yards (1 of 5 FSU receivers above 100 yards). Again, Morlock’s involvement is entirely dependent on the offensive scheme/package, and he often finds himself as a tertiary option. However, Morlock’s highest PFF receiving have come against opponents that, similar to Wake, have struggled to contain any passing game (72.2 against BC, 70.4 against VT). Based on this evidence alone, the game against the Demon Deacons could become an “everybody eats” kind of day, and Kyle Morlock could very well be a benefactor of that.
3. Fentrell Cypress II, Defensive Back
Part of NoleGameday’s “Three Key Matchups” pointed out the matchup between the Florida State defensive backs and the Wake Forest passing game. You see, the “slow mesh” offense is partially predicated on freezing defensive backs and opening up passing lanes. In years past, Sam Hartman was successful at not only making the proper decision to pull the ball and pass it but finding his open receiver as well. Oftentimes, that was his favorite target, wide receiver A.T. Perry. Both of those guys have since moved on from the program, but the concept remains the same.
The Demon Deacons will inevitably find ways to exploit undisciplined defenders. Conversely, Florida State will need to hope that its defensive backs and linebackers will trust their instinct and prevent breakdowns that result from the mesh, especially if they spend most of the day in man coverage. As fate would have it, the ‘Noles have already showcased their high level of trust in redshirt junior defensive back Fentrell Cypress II.
Cypress II transferred prior to the 2023 season by way of the University of Virginia. During his time with UVA, he appeared in 18 games with 15 starts in four seasons and totaled 57 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one interception, 14 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. In seven games with the Seminoles, he has recorded 25 total tackles, 19 solo tackles, leads the team with 5 passes defended, and has an average PFF coverage grade of 69.6. Cypress has played 315 snaps for the ‘Noles thus far, and Fuller’s trust in the veteran DB shines through when the Seminoles constantly put him in man coverage.
He’s a much-needed infusion of veteran experience in a secondary riddled with youth. In the matchup against Wake Forest, Cypress will need to remain the consummate professional in man coverage. Reliance on his ability to trust his eyes and remain committed to his assignment is of the utmost importance against the Demon Deacon offensive scheme.
Despite the down year for Wake Forest, they’re still a well-coached team capable of giving this Florida State team fits. As is always the case, FSU absolutely needs its impact players to perform at the level many have come to expect from them. However, specific schemes and matchup opportunities open the door for other talent to shine through. Against Wake Forest, the ‘Noles will need a healthy combination of the two to survive their trip to Winston-Salem and take the next step in the development of the program into a true national title contender.
Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the 2023 season.
