Some universities are known for producing NFL prospects at certain positions. Wisconsin is well known for churning out NFL offenive linemen is a primary example. For years, NFL teams looking for linebackers headed to Penn State. Perhaps most famous of all is Southern California, well known by their nickname of Tailback U.
Throughout much of his Hall of Fame career at Florida State, former head coach Bobby Bowden (and his defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews) relied on speedy pass rushers off the edge. In German-born junior Bjoern Werner, the Seminoles could have their highest rated defensive lineman since Andre Wadsworth, a former pupil of Bowden's (and Andrews'), was made the No. 3 overall pick of the 1998 draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
Werner, NFLDraftScout.com's No. 7 rated prospect overall, proved well worthy of his grade in an intra-state showdown with Florida Gators, registering 3.5 sacks of quarterback Jeff Driskel and plucking a ball out of the air after the sophomore passer and his running back Mike Gillislee botched an exchange.
It wasn't just the production that Werner enjoyed in this contest that should have scouts pushing the FSU junior up their holiday wish list -- it was the blend of speed, awareness and technique that Werner employed while doing so.
Possessing an explosive first step off the ball, Werner frequently was able to beat Florida redshirt sophomore right tackle Chaz Green with a simple speed rush. Against a mobile quarterback like Driskel, however, Werner couldn't just pin his ears back as a rusher; he and fellow sack-master Cornellius "Tank" Carradine had to keep the Florida quarterback contained in the pocket.
While Werner was the big story today, Carradine entered the weekend leading the Seminoles in tackles (69), tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (10.5). He once again finished with another impressive statline in this contest (game-high 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss) despite being knocked out of the game late in the fourth quarter with an apparent right knee injury. He was held to just half a sack, however, as Florida senior left tackle Xavier Nixon answered the call with one of the more inspired efforts of his career.
As such, on multiple occasions when Werner did beat Green off the snap, he actually slowed down and flattened out, trapping Driskel in the middle of the field rather than allowing him to extend plays with his legs. Doing this put Werner in position to gather the "fumble" between Driskel and Gillislee, a turnover that sparked Florida State's 17-0 third quarter run before the Gators would pull away in the fourth quarter to win.
With his 3.5 quarterback takedowns against Florida, Werner will take over the Seminoles and ACC lead with 13 sacks, likely positioning himself to earn All-American honors.
Bowden (and Andrews) would be proud.
Throughout much of his Hall of Fame career at Florida State, former head coach Bobby Bowden (and his defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews) relied on speedy pass rushers off the edge. In German-born junior Bjoern Werner, the Seminoles could have their highest rated defensive lineman since Andre Wadsworth, a former pupil of Bowden's (and Andrews'), was made the No. 3 overall pick of the 1998 draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
Werner, NFLDraftScout.com's No. 7 rated prospect overall, proved well worthy of his grade in an intra-state showdown with Florida Gators, registering 3.5 sacks of quarterback Jeff Driskel and plucking a ball out of the air after the sophomore passer and his running back Mike Gillislee botched an exchange.
It wasn't just the production that Werner enjoyed in this contest that should have scouts pushing the FSU junior up their holiday wish list -- it was the blend of speed, awareness and technique that Werner employed while doing so.
Possessing an explosive first step off the ball, Werner frequently was able to beat Florida redshirt sophomore right tackle Chaz Green with a simple speed rush. Against a mobile quarterback like Driskel, however, Werner couldn't just pin his ears back as a rusher; he and fellow sack-master Cornellius "Tank" Carradine had to keep the Florida quarterback contained in the pocket.
While Werner was the big story today, Carradine entered the weekend leading the Seminoles in tackles (69), tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (10.5). He once again finished with another impressive statline in this contest (game-high 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss) despite being knocked out of the game late in the fourth quarter with an apparent right knee injury. He was held to just half a sack, however, as Florida senior left tackle Xavier Nixon answered the call with one of the more inspired efforts of his career.
As such, on multiple occasions when Werner did beat Green off the snap, he actually slowed down and flattened out, trapping Driskel in the middle of the field rather than allowing him to extend plays with his legs. Doing this put Werner in position to gather the "fumble" between Driskel and Gillislee, a turnover that sparked Florida State's 17-0 third quarter run before the Gators would pull away in the fourth quarter to win.
With his 3.5 quarterback takedowns against Florida, Werner will take over the Seminoles and ACC lead with 13 sacks, likely positioning himself to earn All-American honors.
Bowden (and Andrews) would be proud.
