GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Florida State’s linebackers against Boston College running back A.J. Dillon, who gashed the Seminoles for 145 yards and a touchdown in last year’s 35-3 Eagles win. Dillon is back and better than ever this year as he enters Saturday’s game as the third-leading rusher in the ACC with 936 yards and eight touchdowns. Dillon is a speedy and often finds himself at the second level against defenses, meaning while the Seminoles’ front line will be busy chasing Anthony Brown all game, the Florida State linebacking corps will be the ones tasked with keeping Dillon from breaking any long runs like he did last season to beat Florida State.
DRAFT SLANT: Florida State’s highest-rated current player is 6-foot-5 defensive end Brian Burns, who NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler considers a potential first-rounder in the 2019 NFL Draft. Burns leads the team with nine sacks and 13 1/2 tackles for loss through 10 games. Brugler, whose mock draft predicts Burns could wind up with the Pittsburgh Steelers near the end of the first round, said of the lanky pass rusher: “Burns has first-round potential and length off the edge.”
ROSTER REPORT:
–Florida State leading tackler, defensive back Hamsah Nasirildeen (team-high 72 tackles), only played for a few minutes against Notre Dame last week before being pulled. When asked about what happened Monday, head coach Willie Taggart said: “He hurt his knee in the North Carolina State game and he’s getting himself healthy, had a good week of practice and I think that like third play of the game (against Notre Dame), he hurt his knee again and he just couldn’t go back out and be effective for us.”
–Florida State head coach Willie Taggart said offensive lineman Landon Dickerson (leg) will not practice this week or play against Boston College. Dickerson, the team’s starting right tackle, was counted on to bring experience to this year’s offensive line, but he hasn’t played since Week 1 against Virginia Tech.
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