Florida State came up three points short against SMU, but several Seminoles still earned strong individual marks from Pro Football Focus in the 27-24 loss. FSU is now 1-1 overall and 0-1 in ACC play, to the dissapointment of their fans.
PFF’s Week 1 grades were especially favorable to a few members of Florida State’s secondary and offensive line. Safety Ashlynd Barker led the entire roster with an 82.7 overall grade, while Quindarrius Jones and Nehemiah Chandler also finished among the Seminoles’ three highest-graded players. On offense, Xavier Chaplin and Ousmane Kromah rounded out the top five.
Here are the five highest-graded Florida State players from the loss to SMU, according to PFF.
5. Ousmane Kromah — 71.9
Kromah once again found himself among Florida State’s best
performers after leading the offense on the ground.
The sophomore running back received a 71.9 overall grade across 50 snaps, with his 72.2 rushing grade representing his strongest offensive category. Kromah also earned a 70.9 run-blocking mark, providing another example of the all-around development that has made him one of FSU’s most reliable offensive pieces through two games. He finished the game with 116 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.
4. Xavier Chaplin — 72.6
Chaplin was Florida State’s highest-graded offensive player.
The left tackle played all 69 offensive snaps and earned a 72.6 overall grade, including a 74.4 pass-blocking mark and 68.8 run-blocking grade. His performance stood out on an offensive line that helped Florida State rush for 199 yards against the Mustangs.
3. Nehemiah Chandler — 74.0
Chandler made the most of his 26 defensive snaps and finished with Florida State’s third-highest overall grade.
The defensive back earned a 74.0 overall mark and a 73.9 coverage grade. He was also responsible for one of Florida State’s biggest defensive plays, intercepting Kevin Jennings in the end zone as the Seminoles forced four SMU turnovers.
2. Quindarrius Jones — 75.0
Jones continued his strong start to the season with another productive performance in the secondary.
The cornerback received a 75.0 overall grade over 47 defensive snaps, including an eye-catching 96.9 run-defense grade, the best individual category mark among Florida State defenders. His coverage grade finished at 56.0, but his work against the run helped push him to No. 2 overall on the team after he forced a fumble and recovered it on the opening possession.
1. Ashlynd Barker — 82.7
Barker easily earned Florida State’s highest overall grade after playing 62 defensive snaps.
The safety finished with an 82.7 overall mark, highlighted by an 84.1 tackling grade, 79.2 coverage grade, and 76.8 pass-rush grade. PFF also credited Barker with two pressures, giving him one of the most complete performances on an FSU defense that otherwise struggled to slow SMU’s passing attack.
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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Five highest-graded FSU players from Week 1 loss
