2019 Florida State Seminoles football team

2019 Florida State Seminoles football
Sun Bowl, L 14–20 vs. Arizona State
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionAtlantic Division
Record6–7 (4–4 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKendal Briles (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorHarlon Barnett (2nd season)
CaptainJames Blackman
Marvin Wilson
Ricky Aguayo
Home stadiumDoak Campbell Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 2018
2020 →
2019 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Atlantic Division
No. 2 Clemson xy$^   8 – 0     14 – 1  
Louisville   5 – 3     8 – 5  
Wake Forest   4 – 4     8 – 5  
Florida State   4 – 4     6 – 7  
Boston College   4 – 4     6 – 7  
Syracuse   2 – 6     5 – 7  
NC State   1 – 7     4 – 8  
Coastal Division
Virginia x   6 – 2     9 – 5  
Virginia Tech   5 – 3     8 – 5  
Miami (FL)   4 – 4     6 – 7  
Pittsburgh   4 – 4     8 – 5  
North Carolina   4 – 4     7 – 6  
Duke   3 – 5     5 – 7  
Georgia Tech   2 – 6     3 – 9  
Championship: Clemson 62, Virginia 17
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2019 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Seminoles played their home games at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, and competed as members of the Atlantic Division in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Florida State was initially led by second-year head coach Willie Taggart. On November 3, 2019, Taggart was fired after losing to Miami (FL) and falling to 4–5 on the season and 9–12 overall.[1] Defensive line coach Odell Haggins was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season, for the second time during his tenure with the program. The Seminoles ultimately finished the season with a 6–7 record, completing consecutive losing seasons for the first time since the 1975 and 1976 seasons. This was the first season since 1976 that Florida State was not ranked in either of the major polls. Running back Cam Akers went on to be selected in the second round of the NFL draft.[2]

Preseason

Coaching changes

In December 2018, the school hired Kendal Briles to be the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, replacing Walt Bell, who left to take the head coaching job at UMass.[3] Briles spent the 2018 season as offensive coordinator at Houston. In January 2019, the school hired alum Ron Dugans to coach wide receivers.[4] In February 2019, the school fired offensive line coach Greg Frey and hired Randy Clements to the same position;[5] Briles and Clements previously worked together on the Houston staff.

Player news

Quarterback Deondre Francois was dismissed from the team in February 2019 after Francois' girlfriend posted a video to Instagram which alleged domestic abuse.[6] Francois had been the starting quarterback for the Seminoles during the 2016 and 2018 seasons (an injury sustained in the first game of 2017 sidelined him for most of that season), and was set to be the starter again as a senior.

In March 2019, former Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook announced that he was transferring to Florida State for his final season of eligibility as an NCAA graduate transfer.[7] In August 2019, Jordan Travis, a transfer quarterback from Louisville, was granted a waiver by the NCAA to be immediately eligible to play.[8]

Recruiting

Florida State's 2019 recruiting class consisted of 21 recruits. The class was ranked 21st in the nation and second in the ACC according to the 247Sports.com Composite.[9] This represented the lowest-ranked class for the school since 2007.[10]

Spring game

The 'Garnet and Gold Game' was held on April 6 with the Gold team, led by James Blackman, victorious over the Garnet team by a score of 27–21.[11]

Preseason media poll

In the preseason ACC media poll, Florida State was selected to finish third in the Atlantic Division.[12] Wide receiver Tamorrion Terry and defensive tackle Marvin Wilson were named to the preseason All-ACC team.[13]

Media poll (Atlantic Division)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Clemson 1209 (171)
2 Syracuse 913 (2)
3 Florida State 753
4 NC State 666
5 Boston College 588
6 Wake Forest 462
7 Louisville 253

Award watch lists

Award Player Position Year
Lott Trophy[14] DeCalon Brooks LB SO
Maxwell Award[15] Cam Akers RB JR
Bednarik Award[15] Marvin Wilson DT JR
Doak Walker Award[16] Cam Akers RB JR
Biletnikoff Award[17] Tamorrion Terry WR SO
Mackey Award[18] Tre' McKitty TE JR
Butkus Award[19] Dontavious Jackson LB SR
Outland Trophy[20] Marvin Wilson DT JR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy[20] Marvin Wilson DT JR
Ray Guy Award[21] Logan Tyler P SR
Wuerffel Trophy[22] DeCalon Brooks LB SO

Listed in the order that they were released

Schedule

Florida State's 2019 season was set to begin with a non-conference neutral site game at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, against Boise State of the Mountain West Conference, though the game was relocated to Tallahassee due to Hurricane Dorian. In ACC play, the Seminoles played the other members of the Atlantic Division as well as Virginia and Miami from the Coastal Division. To end the year, Florida State played on the road against rival Florida of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 3112:00 p.m.Boise State*
ESPNewsL 31–36[23]50,917
September 75:00 p.m.Louisiana–Monroe*
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ACCNW 45–44 OT[25]52,969
September 147:30 p.m.at No. 25 Virginia
ACCNL 24–31[26]57,826
September 213:30 p.m.Louisville
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ESPNW 35–24[27]46,530
September 287:30 p.m.NC State
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ACCNW 31–13[28]60,351
October 123:30 p.m.at No. 2 Clemson
ABCL 14–45[29]80,500
October 197:30 p.m.at Wake Forest
ACCNL 20–22[30]24,782
October 263:30 p.m.Syracusedagger
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ESPN2W 35–17[31]50,517
November 23:30 p.m.Miami (FL)
ABCL 10–27[32]63,995
November 912:00 p.m.at Boston College
ACCNW 38–31[33]37,312
November 1612:00 p.m.Alabama State*
  • Doak Campbell Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
ACCRSNW 49–12[34]52,857
November 307:30 p.m.at No. 8 Florida*
SECNL 17–40[35]89,409
December 312:00 p.m.vs. Arizona State*
CBSL 14–20[36]42,412

[37]

  1. ^ The game against Boise State was originally scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET at TIAA Bank Stadium in Jacksonville, but was moved over safety concerns related to Hurricane Dorian.[24]

Game summaries

Vs. Boise State

See also: 2019 Boise State Broncos football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Broncos 6 13 7 10 36
Seminoles 21 10 0 0 31

Louisiana–Monroe

See also: 2019 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team
1 2 3 4OT Total
Warhawks 0 7 14 176 44
Seminoles 14 10 0 147 45

At Virginia

See also: 2019 Virginia Cavaliers football team and Jefferson-Eppes Trophy
1 2 3 4 Total
Seminoles 0 14 3 7 24
No. 25 Cavaliers 3 7 0 21 31

Louisville

See also: 2019 Louisville Cardinals football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinals 0 7 10 7 24
Seminoles 21 0 0 14 35

NC State

See also: 2019 NC State Wolfpack football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Wolfpack 0 6 0 7 13
Seminoles 3 14 7 7 31

At Clemson

See also: 2019 Clemson Tigers football team and Clemson–Florida State football rivalry
1 2 3 4 Total
Seminoles 0 0 7 7 14
No. 2 Tigers 14 14 14 3 45

At Wake Forest

See also: 2019 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Seminoles 0 14 0 6 20
Demon Deacons 6 6 0 10 22

Syracuse

See also: 2019 Syracuse Orange football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Orange 0 3 0 14 17
Seminoles 13 8 14 0 35

Miami (FL)

See also: 2019 Miami Hurricanes football team and Florida State–Miami football rivalry
1 2 3 4 Total
Hurricanes 7 10 0 10 27
Seminoles 0 3 7 0 10

At Boston College

See also: 2019 Boston College Eagles football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Seminoles 3 7 14 14 38
Eagles 7 7 0 17 31

Alabama State

See also: 2019 Alabama State Hornets football team
1 2 3 4 Total
Hornets 3 3 6 0 12
Seminoles 14 7 14 14 49

At Florida

See also: 2019 Florida Gators football team and Florida–Florida State football rivalry
1 2 3 4 Total
Seminoles 7 0 10 0 17
No. 8 Gators 7 23 7 3 40

Vs. Arizona State (Sun Bowl)

1 2 3 4 Total
Seminoles 0 0 14 0 14
Sun Devils 3 6 0 11 20
See also: 2019 Arizona State Sun Devils football team and 2019 Sun Bowl

Honors

All-ACC

The Seminoles had six players selected to the All-ACC team, with four defensive selections and two offensive selections.[44]

Personnel

Roster

Coaching staff

Florida State Seminoles coaches

Head coach

Assistant coaches

[45]

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2020 NFL draft
Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
2 52 Cam Akers RB Los Angeles Rams

References

  1. ^ "Florida State fires Taggart after less than 2 years". ESPN. November 3, 2019.
  2. ^ "Cam Akers Drafted By Los Angeles Rams In Second Round". Seminoles.com. April 24, 2020.
  3. ^ Powell, Chaunte'l (December 23, 2018). "Florida State hires Kendal Briles to be offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach". Orlando Sentinel.
  4. ^ Powell, Chaunte'l (January 20, 2019). "Florida State names Ron Dugans Seminoles' new receiver coach". Orlando Sentinel.
  5. ^ Powell, Chaunte'l (February 21, 2019). "FSU names Randy Clements its new offensive line coach". Orlando Sentinel.
  6. ^ Adelson, Andrea (February 4, 2019). "Florida State dismisses QB Deondre Francois from team". ESPN.com.
  7. ^ Rollins, Khadrice (March 10, 2019). "Former Wisconsin Quarterback Alex Hornibrook Announces Transfer to Florida State". Sports Illustrated.
  8. ^ "Travis Granted Immediate Eligibility". Florida State University. August 12, 2019.
  9. ^ "Florida State 2019 Football Commits". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  10. ^ Weiler, Curt (February 6, 2019). "FSU signing class a step towards culture Willie Taggart wants to create". Tallahassee Democrat.
  11. ^ "Offenses Shine As Gold Tops Garnet, 27-21". Seminoles.com. April 6, 2019.
  12. ^ "Clemson Favored to Continue ACC Football Championship Run". theACC.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  13. ^ "2019 Preseason All-ACC Football Team Announced". theACC.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  14. ^ "Impact Foundation names 2019 watch list". LottImpactTrophy.org. Pacific Club Impact Foundation. May 17, 2019. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Akers, Wilson On Maxwell, Bednarik Watch Lists". July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  16. ^ "Akers Named To Doak Walker Award Watch List". July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  17. ^ "Terry Named To Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  18. ^ "Terry Named To Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  19. ^ "Jackson Named To Butkus Award Watch List". July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Wilson On Outland, Nagurski Watch Lists". July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  21. ^ "Tyler Named To Ray Guy Award Watch List". July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  22. ^ "Brooks Named To Wuerffel Trophy Watch List". July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  23. ^ "Promising Start Bucked By Broncos, 36-31". August 31, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  24. ^ Kaur, Harmeet (August 29, 2019). "The FSU-Boise State game is being moved to Tallahassee over Hurricane Dorian". CNN. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  25. ^ "Akers Carries Noles To Dramatic 45-44 OT Win". September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  26. ^ "Noles Fall One Play Short In 31-24 Loss At UVA". September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  27. ^ "'Now We Know We Can Do It': Noles Find Fourth Quarter Answers, Beat Cards 35-24". September 21, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  28. ^ "'Another Step In The Right Direction': Hornibrook-led Noles Finish Off Wolfpack, 31-13". September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  29. ^ "Football Falls in Clemson To No. 2 Tigers". October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  30. ^ "Football Falls 22-20 At Wake". October 19, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  31. ^ "Akers-Led Noles Rush To Homecoming Romp". October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  32. ^ "Second-Half Rally Fizzles In 27-10 Setback". November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  33. ^ "Three-and-Odell!". November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  34. ^ "Noles "Bowl" Over Hornets With Big-Play Barrage". November 16, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  35. ^ "Noles Can't Keep Pace; Turn Toward Future". November 30, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  36. ^ "Football Falls Short, 20-14, In Sun Bowl". December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  37. ^ "2019 Florida State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  38. ^ "ACC Announces Football Players of the Week". Atlantic Coast Conference. September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  39. ^ a b "ACC Announces Football Players of the Week". Atlantic Coast Conference. September 23, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  40. ^ a b "Three From Clemson Lead ACC Players of the Week". Atlantic Coast Conference. October 28, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  41. ^ a b c "ACC Announces Football Players of the Week". Atlantic Coast Conference. September 30, 2019. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  42. ^ a b "Williams and Etienne Headline Week 11 ACC Players of the Week". Atlantic Coast Conference. November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  43. ^ "Pickett, Etienne Headline Week 12 Football Players of the Week". Atlantic Coast Conference. November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  44. ^ "Wilson Leads Six Seminoles To Receive All-ACC Recognition". December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  45. ^ "Staff Directory". June 6, 2017.