Florida State faces another Heisman hopeful in LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels
The long-awaited start to Florida State football's 2023 season is finally here.
The No. 8 Seminoles take on No. 5 LSU at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Coming out of fall camp, FSU head coach Mike Norvell and his staff are impressed with what they've seen over the past month, some saying it's the best camp they've had since Norvell started at FSU in 2020.
"The relationships between the guys, you felt a purpose," Norvell said. "That's what we're looking to continue to build, but we've got the right guys. We're looking for the right fit for Florida State and I think we've found them. We're continuing to build them to allow them to be their best."
As the Seminoles prepare for LSU, they're aware of the defensive threats ahead, including linebacker Harold Perkins. Novell emphasized the experience Perkins has had across LSU's defense during his time in the program.
"He's been all over," Norvell said. "He's lined up at essentially what would be a nickel position in their four-three. He's been a defensive end, a mugged-up inside linebacker and played as a true middle-stacked linebacker. He can literally do it all. He's a dynamic player."
Up the road in Baton Rouge, Sunday's game has been one that LSU has been looking forward to for a long time.
Aside from avenging the 24-23 loss on a blocked PAT last season, the stage of the game and competition to open up the season is one the Tigers are excited about.
"We knew that this day would be coming. It's just a great challenge for our football team and they've been looking forward to this challenge," LSU head coach Brian Kelly said. "It's been motivation in the offseason and all the things you do to prepare for a great game like this comes to fruition on Sunday."
Kelly said that there's been immense improvement from the Tigers from last season, mainly becoming a smarter team and understanding the systems.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels agreed saying that last season his mind racing to learn plays where now he feels at ease.
Daniels did comment on the FSU defense, saying that its experience and additions from the portal pose a challenge for himself and the LSU offense.
"They [FSU] played together last year, they're [FSU] buying some new transfers, but their [FSU] front seven can get after the quarterback," Daniels said. "They [FSU] can wreak havoc. We've got to be on high alert for the different pressure they [FSU] bring and their athleticism on the edges."
"If we don't handle the pressure right or I don't make the right calls, they [FSU] feast on negative plays."
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3 keys to the game
1. Take Jayden Daniels out of the equation early
The Tigers are very similar to the Seminoles in the sense that they have a dynamic, Heisman hopeful quarterback that is spark-plugging a strong passing offense.
Last season Daniels threw for 2,913 yards, 17 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Even when he couldn't find a receiver, he rushed for 885 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He's only boosted the stats of the players around him. Malik Nabers recorded a team-leading 1,017 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Five different players eclipsed over 300 receiving yards on the year.
If the FSU wants to stall LSU's offense, it'll need to remove Daniels from the equation. Limiting him will force them to lean heavily on its rushing game. While the Tigers are decent on the ground, it's not as strong compared to the passing game.
2. Offensive line needs to stand tall
Linebacker depth may be the name of the game. It's been a big question mark for the Seminoles following multiple exits, that being graduation or transfer, leaving the room a little bare.
FSU has Tatum Bethune and Kalen DeLoach leading the way but it will need help from younger players.
LSU's linebacker room on the other hand is one of its specialties. Greg Penn III and Perkins Jr. were two of the Tigers' top defensive leaders last season.
Penn had 77 tackles and Perkins recorded 72 tackles, along with 7.5 sacks, four pass deflections and three forced fumbles.
While the Seminoles have a lot of depth on the offensive line, this is going to be a big early test for them. If any holes open up, quarterback Jordan Travis could be forced to keep or hurry all night.
3. Win the turnover battle
Judging from last season's game, and some of the cat-fights LSU got into last season, every single possession is going to count into this game.
With two elite quarterbacks charging the offense, any turnover is enormous in this game. FSU needs to make sure it's on the winning end when it comes to its turnovers.
The Tigers narrowly lost to the Seminoles last season but beat Auburn by four, Alabama by one in overtime and Arkansas by three. This is a team that knows how to go to the limit and take advantage of every opportunity they get.
FSU has played in some tight games, defeating Louisville by four, falling to NC State by two and the LSU victory. Both teams are battle-tested and it could be a battle down to the final second again. FSU needs to do as much as it can to control its momentum.
LSU players to watch
Offense: Jayden Daniels, Sr., Quarterback
In a similar sense to Travis, Daniels is a quarterback who can do it all and is hoping to have a historic season not just for himself, but for his program. He's a versatile athlete who can not just dominate through LSU's passing game but on the ground as well.
Last season he threw for 2,913 yards, 17 touchdowns and only three interceptions. That was complimented by 885 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. While Travis passed for 301 more yards and seven more touchdowns, Daniels rushed for 468 more yards and four more touchdowns.
Daniels is going to be an impact player and similar to Travis, is looking to make Sunday's matchup the start of his Heisman campaign.
Defense: Harold Perkins, Jr., Linebacker
While LSU graduated a few big pieces from its linebacker room, it's still painting a massive amount of depth, led by Perkins. Last season he recorded a massive statlien of 72 tackles, 7.5 sacks, four pass deflections and three forced fumbles. He's a force that could create some cracks in FSU's offensive structure.
Stopping Perkins will be a task for how deep the FSU offensive line is and an early test needed for a tough opening four-week stretch. Even if Perkins is limited, the Tigers still have a deep linebacker room that can cause disruption.
History
This is the 11th meeting between LSU and FSU since 1968, with the Seminoles holding an 8-2 advantage in the series, including a five-game winning streak.
The first meeting was in the Peach Bowl on December 30, 1968, where the Tigers defeated the Seminoles 31-27.
Its last meeting was on September 4, 2022, at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, where FSU dramatically defeated LSU, 24-23, off a blocked PAT with no time left.
Prior to last season's meeting, these two teams had not met since 1991.
The Seminoles' biggest win over the Tigers was on October 27, 1990, when they won 42-3 in Tallahassee. Their biggest loss was a 55-21 result on November 20, 1982, in Baton Rouge.
GAME INFORMATION
Who: AP No. 8 FSU (0-0) vs. No. 5 LSU (0-0)
When/where: Sunday, Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m.; Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
TV/Radio: ABC/94.9 FM
Live game updates: www.Tallahassee.com; @JackGWilliams on Twitter; @Ehsan_Kassim on Twitter; @JimHenryTALLY on Twitter
Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Both Florida State, LSU preparing for defensive showdown in Sunday's game
