Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 10, 2020 27 BY TODD D. BURLAGE FLORIDA STATE RUNNING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME RUN DEFENSE Standout running back Cam Akers is off to the NFL after leading the Seminoles with 1,144 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019. With Akers gone, expect a continued by-committee approach at this position with players who averaged 130.0 rushing yards through the first two games. The hope is that redshirt sophomore Jashaun Corbin, a transfer from Texas A&M, eventually emerges as the Seminoles' feature back. But the question remains: Will Corbin and Co. have any quality linemen to run behind? The offensive line struggled mightily under for- mer FSU head coach Willie Taggart — who was fired last season after only 21 games — and find- ing necessary improvement on this unit after the cancellation of spring ball has made the job for first-year head coach Mike Norvell even tougher. The Seminoles running game averaged fewer than four yards per carry last season and is on a similar pace so far this fall. Meanwhile, Notre Dame's depth within its front seven continues to drive the Irish run stoppage defense, which ranked 10th nationally by allowing just 90.5 yards per game through two contests. Even with numerous defensive players sidelined because of injuries or COVID-19 quarantines, the Irish depth continues to shine with backup line- backers such as sophomore Jack Kiser, and juniors Bo Bauer and Paul Moala filling in admirably. Seventeen Irish players, including 11 scholarship freshmen, made their career debuts against South Florida, and many enjoyed solid and memorable games. Advantage: Notre Dame FLORIDA STATE PASSING GAME VS. NOTRE DAME PASS DEFENSE Seminoles redshirt junior quarterback James Blackman is the starter again this season after throwing for 2,339 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2019. Blackman features a live arm, 30 games of expe- rience and a downfield ability FSU hopes to lean on under Norvell and the gun-slinging style he brings from Memphis. After recording 60 catches for 1,188 yards and nine touchdowns in 2019, redshirt junior Tamor- rion Terry (6-4, 210 pounds) will be among the best pass catchers and most worrisome deep threats the Irish secondary faces this season. Junior tight end Camren McDonald (10 catches for 99 yards and one touchdown), along with Corbin (11 receptions for 77 yards) out of the backfield, have emerged as Blackman's favorite targets so far this season, perhaps because he has little time to throw. FSU finished 34th in the country in passing of- James Blackman, a redshirt junior, returns as the starter at quarterback for Florida State after passing for 2,339 yards with 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2019. PHOTO BY DON JUAN MOORE/COURTESY ACC MEDIA GAME PREVIEW: FLORIDA STATE On PaPer