The FSU Seminoles got the win in their season opener against the New Mexico State Aggies in Doak Campbell Stadium by a score of 34-17. The game was a lot closer than the final score, but a win is a win at the end of the day.
Florida State didn't allow a lot of points, but there were some things that weren't too flattering. Most noticeably, the defensive front didn't get any pass rush. Trey Hedden carved them up all night on underneath routes, which also speaks to how the secondary didn't have the best performance either, as they played too far off the ball in too many instances.
They have a much bigger test against the SMU Mustangs in Week 1, and they'll have to show significant improvement from now until then. However, here are the top three
defensive players for FSU in their season opener.
Chris Jones
Jones was added through the transfer portal in the offseason, and he was making plays on Saturday night. He registered six tackles, with three of them being solo stops. Jones played downhill and showed the aggressiveness that made him a sought-after player in the portal. He will be even better as the season goes on, and he should be the leader in the linebacker room.
Mikai Gbayor
Gbayor was another linebacker addition in the portal, and he played very well. He filled gaps and also looked pretty good in coverage as he racked up four tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack. Gbayor was banged up during the offseason, but he came out and showed that he can be a valuable asset in Tony White’s 3-3-5 scheme.
Quindarrius Jones
Last season was a struggle for Jones. On the first drive of the game, he made multiple huge plays with a pass breakup in the end zone, and then he ended the potential scoring drive with an interception. This was the kind of performance that he can build on for the rest of the season.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Top defensive players in FSU's win vs. New Mexico State
