Florida State vs. Duke: Three Players to Watch As Seminoles Try To Stay Undefeated
Prior to the season, no one expected this matchup to carry the weight it does now. The Seminoles were the benefactors of the off-season hype and favorable projections for playoffs and conference championships with notable matchups against LSU and Clemson in the first four weeks. Meanwhile, Duke was staring down the barrel of a daunting Week One matchup against reigning ACC champions, the Clemson Tigers, and a few home tests against the likes of Notre Dame and NC State. What transpired, specifically in Duke’s case, was far from the expectation the nation had for them. Instead, six weeks into the season, undefeated Florida State finds themselves in a prime-time conference showdown with a one-loss Duke Blue Devil team.
READ MORE: Former Florida State Wide Receiver Ruled Out For The Remainder Of Season
Despite the negative connotations that typically surround the Duke football program because of the school’s basketball pedigree, no one is taking this Blue Devil team lightly.
"Duke has had a great year up to this point. They were one play away from being undefeated and you see the mindset of how they play and what they do. It's impressive and I've got a lot of respect for coach (Mike) Elko,” said Florida State head coach Mike Norvell earlier in the week.
Elko’s squad shocked the nation with a double-digit win over a top-10 ranked Clemson in week one, and they nearly upset a talented Notre Dame team a few weeks later. The Blue Devils are ranked 16th in the country and 3rd in the ACC entering Saturday’s matchup, and with their star quarterback’s potential return from injury, they present the biggest challenge for the ‘Noles since Week 4.
The gravity of this game is not lost on anyone. Norvell and the Seminoles understand that this Blue Devil team is more than capable of testing them and pushing this game to the brink.
"We definitely have our hands full this week in our preparation, but these are the games you love being a part of. You love coaching them, and you love playing them because there's going to be a lot of really good players and some fun X's and O's to see who can create any type of advantage,” said Norvell.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of those “good players” that FSU will rely on come Saturday night.
1. Johnny Wilson, Wide Receiver
Somehow, wide receiver Johnny Wilson hasn’t appeared in a single “Three Players to Watch” article this season, which is a massive oversight. He has surpassed 100 yards receiving in a single game on two accounts and was but 6 yards away from making that three; his 20 receptions for the season trail only Keon Coleman (29) for most receptions on the team, despite missing an entire game with injury; he has found the end zone on 2 occasions; and his 17.9 yards per reception is the most among all FSU receivers (minimum 2 receptions). Wilson still has some consistency issues, but he’s playing receiver at an elite level nonetheless.
Wilson will be returning to the lineup against Duke after missing last week’s Syracuse game with an undisclosed injury. His inclusion in the offense is paramount, and the combination of both he and Coleman is a pillar of the Florida State attack. Together, the two receivers have a combined 49 receptions for 775 yards and 9 touchdowns. They are undoubtedly the two biggest contributors on the offense, outside of quarterback Jordan Travis, of course. Wilson’s reintroduction to the team bodes well for their matchup this week, and FSU will need that vertical threat from him against a stingy Duke pass defense.
2. Shyheim Brown, Defensive Back
Moving over to the defensive side of the ball, one player to keep an eye on this weekend is defensive back Shyheim Brown. After only appearing in 3 games for the ‘Noles in 2021, Brown burst onto the scene in 2022, appearing in all 13 games and recording 36 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one fumble recovery, one quarterback hurry, and one blocked kick. Entering 2023, the redshirt sophomore defensive back stood to receive significantly more playing time in the defensive secondary, and he’s made the most of that opportunity.
For all intents and purposes, he’s having a true breakout year. He’s the first non-linebacker leading the team in tackles with 24 and his 2 sacks rank fourth among all position groups. Beyond the box score, Brown is just one of those names you see flying across the field and one you hear involved in almost every place. Against Syracuse, he churned out a 7 tackle and 1.5 sack performance, which earned him the honor of breaking the rock (alongside some others). He’s been a consistent presence in the secondary, and it stands to reason that he should be able to keep that up going forward.
His knack for disrupting the opposing offense in the backfield will be necessary against Duke, especially if quarterback Riley Leonard is suiting up to play. If Brown can disrupt the ailing quarterback and bring him down for a few losses, then it'll surely be a long day for the Blue Devils.
3. Joshua Farmer, Defensive Line
Reader, you might be surprised to hear that the leading sacker on the defensive line is in fact not Jared Verse nor Patrick Payton nor is it Dennis Briggs Jr. The man with the most sacks on the defensive line is, in fact, redshirt sophomore Joshua Farmer. The interior defensive lineman had quite an interesting offseason with regard to the transfer portal and his status with the team, but when the ‘Noles kicked off the 2023 season, Farmer was on the sideline. Unsurprisingly, his decision to stick with Florida State has paid dividends.
He has recorded at least one solo tackle in 5 straight games, he trails linebacker Kalen DeLoach for most sacks on the team, and he consistently finds ways to stymie opposing offenses at or behind the line of scrimmage. Like Shyheim Brown, Farmer is constantly finding ways to make his presence known, whether it shows up in the box score or not. His presence on the line will be integral in stuffing Duke’s prolific run game. With that in mind, keep a weathered eye on Farmer along that defensive line on Saturday night.
The players above have proven themselves to be consistent performers for the ‘Noles this year, and it’s that consistency and reliability that Florida State will need against an inspired Duke team. With the highest of national and conference stakes on the line, both teams will take Bobby Bowden Field with something to prove. For Norvell’s group, the climb is far from over and Duke is the next step on the journey. For Duke, it’s an opportunity to make a statement and show the nation that their season is far from over following the loss to Notre Dame. Whatever way you spin it, this game is of the utmost importance for a variety of reasons. Whether it was expected or not, Doak Campbell Stadium will shine its flashy new lights upon a top-25, ACC conference matchup between the fourth-ranked Seminoles and the sixteenth-ranked Blue Devils.
READ MORE: Jordan Travis Believes There Is Still More for Florida State Offense
Stick with NoleGameday for more coverage of Florida State football throughout the 2023 season.
