Who is the Player to Watch on Each of Miami Hurricanes 2017 Opponents?

Derwin James, Safety

James is one of six Florida State players ranked in Sports Illustrated’s top 100. He is their top overall player and expected to go into the top ten of the NFL Draft next spring.

He missed most of the 2016 season with a knee injury. As a Freshman during the 2015 season, James had 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four passes defended, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

James has often been criticized for only recording one interception in 14 career collegiate games. Sports Illustrated’s take on James is:

"“There’s a high degree of risk involved with this pick. If things break the way SI.com expects them to, though, the reward will be enormous. James appeared in only two games last season before undergoing surgery to address a knee injury. If the effects of that injury linger into the fall, James’s play will suffer as a result. Fortunately, there are signs that he has fully recovered. He shone with seven tackles and two sacks in Florida State’s Garnet and Gold game in April, and he was caught on camera throwing down a dunk the same month that would have earned better scores than most of the jams in the NBA’s contest in February. James may be the only player in the country capable of lining up virtually everywhere on the defensive side of the ball, and Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher might want to consider dialing up a running play for him or asking him to run a deep route. Billing James as the next Jabrill Peppers is underselling the number of tasks the 6’3”, 211-pound redshirt sophomore can perform on the field at a high level. The NFL team that eventually uses a top-10 pick on James will probably want him to focus on one position. Fisher should give James the opportunity to demonstrate why that approach would be a gross misuse of his talents. James is the best player in college football because he can do more things well than anyone else. — CJ"