Why 2018 will be huge for FSU, FAU, Miami, and UWF?

For the most part, this list will be of players who we feel will make a huge difference to their team in 2018.

One of the guys leading this list is Florida State Quarterback, Deondre Francois. This dynamic, accurate, and savvy QB was injured for most of the 2017 season. He was knocked out of the game against Alabama in week 1, but before that injury, Francois was projected to lead the Seminoles to a potential College Football Playoff birth.

Florida State will have an entirely new coaching staff this season as new head coach,, takes over for Jimbo Fisher. Jimbo Fisher left Florida State at the end of the regular season last season for Texas A&M.

Although, Francois was injured all last season, and his replacement, James Blackman matured. Francois should have no problem winning his job back and leading Florida State back to the top of College Football.

Florida State’s biggest match-ups:

Virginia Tech

Miami

Clemson

Nc State

Notre Dame

Ahmmon Richards should be the guy to watch if you’re in South Florida. Ahmmon did not become fully sidelined last season until the practice leading up to the ACC championship game against Clemson. Richards was injured all season long. Ahmmon is a speedy receiver who can get open and make any team wish he didn’t get the ball. Ahmmon will be the leader of a receiving core that is loaded with talent. If Richards has a season we all expect for him to have, he should be up for a few awards at the end if the year, and a projected top 2019 NFL Draft choice.

Miami will need Richards to be ready and explosive week 1 as Miami will go up against the best secondary they will ever see all season in LSU. Expect Richards to be matched up against LSUs best cover corner, Greedy Williams. The All-American corner isn’t shy to competition, and he will be ready week 1 against Richards.

 

Miami schedule will not be as tough as 2017 was down the stretch, but their are a couple of key games that Miami will need to be on their A-game for:

LSU

Florida State

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Can we scream “Last Chance U” for De’Andre Johnson. The former FSU QB, turned EMCC QB, turned FAU QB hopeful starter. Johnson has had a wild college career that deals with more off the field situations than on the field. His exile from Florida State landed him at Juco power house Eastern Mississippi Community College playing for Buddy Stevens. That same school would become the face of a new Netflix Series that showed the world what Juco football really is all about. Johnson would be one if the main stars in Season 2. Johnson would go on to lead Lions to an impressive 1-loss season, only to be snubbed for an national title appearance.

Johnson came out of high school highly touted going into Florida State. After his dismissal from the team, he climbed his way back into D1, with FAU.

At FAU, while competing for the starting job, De’Andre would come to find out he had a serious blood clot injury that hindered his ability to be productive. He was basically fighting for a position with one arm behind his back. Johnson sat out all of 2017 season to get back to his original form before the clot.

This season, Johnson will be completing with former Oklahoma QB,Chris Robison, for the starting Job. If Johnson wins that job, he will be thrown into a huge test week 1 of the season against Oklahoma. I believe Johnson is ready for his opportunity to show the world what we have been waiting for since he left First Coast High School back in 2015.

FAU biggest match-ups:

Oklahoma

UCF

FIU

This receiver is as reliable or even more reliable than many D1 wide receivers. University of West Florida wide receiver, Karon Ashley, is what you would call a sure thing. Ashley is returning for his redshirt sophomore year after he help lead the Argos to their first ever appearance in the division 2 National Championship. The Argos would fall short of the title, but the Argos would leave Kansas with a bright future and Ashley is a big part of that future.

Ashley had 36 receptions for 478 yards in 2017. We expect Ashley to either reach 1,000 yards this season or come close. His QB, Mike Beaudry, is not a freshman anymore. In the couple of practices this fall, Mike has thrown dimes all over the field and even some to Ashley. Ashley could see 1,000 yards and close to 10 touchdowns this year. His talent as a deep ball threat and a excellent guy to go up for the 50/50 jump balls makes him a dangerous wide receiver.

UWF biggest match-ups:

Midwestern State

West Georgia

Florida Tech

West Alabama

*FEATURE PHOTO TAKEN BY (Logan Bowles-USA Today)

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