Miami football faces Florida State defense rebuilt with transfers

Oct 30, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Miami football team will be challenged by Florida State who has improved significantly defensively with several key transfers during the 2021 offseason. The Seminoles added 12 transfers during the 2021 offseason according to 247 Sports.Com. Three 2021 Seminoles transfers by are starting.

Buck (safety) Jammie Robinson defensive end Jermaine Johnson and fox (essentially DE) Keir Thomas are the sole transfers starting for Florida State. Florida State is 71st nationally allowing 27.0 points per game and 70 allowing 388.8 yards per game.

The Seminoles were 105th allowing 36.0 PPG in 2020 and 107th allowing 456.3 yards per game. Johnson. Robinson and some key reserves on defense have been a big reason for the improvement. Johnson leads Florida State with 10.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks and is second behind Robinson with 54 tackles.

Robinson leads Florida State with 64 tackles and two forced fumbles plus 5.5 TFLs, is tied for the team lead with two interceptions and has three pass breakups. Thomas has 26 tackles and is second to Johnson with nine TFLs and 4.5 sacks. Backup free safety Jarques McClellion has 14 tackles and one PBU.

Four other backups on the Florida State defense were transfers during the 2021 offseason. Miami had 517 yards of offense in a 52-10 victory over Florida State last season. The Miami football team set the record for most scored in the rivalry during the 2020 victory at Hard Rock Stadium.

The worst performance by the Florida State defense this season was 484 yards allowed in a 35-14 loss to Wake Forest. The Miami football team had their best offensive performance against an FBS team in 2021 last weekend in a 33-30 victory over Georgia Tech. The Hurricanes gained 563 yards against the Yellow Jackets.

Florida State is 51st nationally with 13 forced turnovers. The Seminoles have recovered five fumbles and intercepted eight passes. Florida State has five players on defense who have made 50 tackles this season. Miami has none. Florida State has been nearly equal against the pass and the run.

The Seminoles are 70th allowing 153.56 rushing yards and 73rd allowing 235.1 passing yards per game. Miami is 31st averaging 32.9 PPG, 24th averaging 454 yards per game, 85th in rushing offense at 143.89 YPG and 16th in pass offense at 310.1 YPG. Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke should have a big day.

Van Dyke is 19th nationally averaging 268.1 passing yards per game. The Miami pass offense and Van Dyke have been on fire over the past three games. Miami averaged 380.0 passing YPG against North Carolina State, Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech. Florida State has been inconsistent against the pass this season.

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After allowing 300 combined yards in their two prior games against UMass and Clemson, North Carolina State had 314 passing yards in a 28-14 victory on Saturday. The Wolfpack threw for 310 against Miami. Florida State has significantly improved defensively from 2020, but the Miami offense should be successful.