Florida State 31, Boston College 29
Entering the season, there was a lot of hype and excitement around Florida State wide receiver Johnny Wilson. The 6-foot-7, 240-pounder is a giant who possesses surprising athleticism for such a huge big-bodied skill-position player. Wilson notched some production in the season opener against LSU, but he also had some ugly dropped passes.
Wilson bounced back well against Boston College, hauling in four passes for 105 yards. He did not have any dropped passes and showed good route-running ability for a giant wideout. To open the third quarter, Wilson got open on a play-action slant and took off for a 44-yard gain. Wilson did not fail to catch the ball and looked better at doing it.
There is no doubt that Wilson is a mismatch weapon for the NFL. He has quality speed for a big wide receiver and impressive athleticism to sink his weight to get in and out of breaks. Wilson could be a first-rounder next April in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he needs to show steady and reliable hands across the rest of the year.
Boston College guard Christian Mahogany played well in 2021 before missing the 2022 season with an injury. Florida State presented a good opportunity for Mahogany if he played well. The defensive line of the Seminoles features some future NFL competitors, including nose tackle Fabian Lovett. Overall, Mahogany had a mixed performance.
On the positive side, Mahogany blocked well in the ground game. Midway through the first half, Mahogany made a nice block in a third-and-short to help create enough of a push for a conversion. In the third quarter, Mahogany blasted Lovett off the ball and pushed him to the side to open a hole for a short touchdown run. On the flip side, Mahogany allowed some penetration into the pocket on some pass plays and gave up some pressure on his quarterback. Overall, Mahogany could be a potential starter in the NFL, but he needs to stay healthy and show improved pass protection in the weeks to come.
Florida State defensive end Jared Verse is a potential first-rounder who has had a quiet start to the season statistically. This game was more of the same for Verse, who notched a few pressures and made a nice tackle for a loss, but did not have a prolific performance on the stat sheet. Verse has quickness, strength and athleticism. He plays hard and causes disruption. Overall, this game made for was a respectable tape from Verse.