ESPN College Football

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State offensive line coach Rick Trickett likes to joke that the Seminoles have their own version of the United Nations.

Star defensive end Bjoern Werner is a native of Berlin, Germany, and the Seminoles’ starting offensive tackles this coming season might be from England and Switzerland.

Anything might be better than the inexperienced group the Seminoles put on the field last season. Because of injuries, Florida State started four freshman offensive linemen in its 18-14 victory over Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl.

As FSU begins spring practice, those freshmen are now sophomores, and two JUCO transfers -- Daniel Glauser and Menelik Watson -- might step in to anchor the offensive line.

Glauser, a native of Rheinfelden, Switzerland, enrolled at FSU in January and is participating in spring practice. Watson, from Manchester, England, is expected to join the Seminoles this summer.

“The [foreign-born] players are more mature,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said.

But when it comes to football, Glauser and Watson are relatively inexperienced. Glauser grew up playing soccer in Switzerland, but he was encouraged to move to the U.S. by his American-born coach to play college football. Glauser, 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, spent the past two seasons at New Mexico Military Institute. Fisher was so impressed with Glauser that he offered him a scholarship even though he’ll have only one season of eligibility at FSU.

“New Mexico Institute didn’t know they could have redshirted him,” Fisher said. “They didn’t know. We didn’t know.”

Watson took an even longer route to Florida State. He came to the U.S. to play basketball at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Watson, 6-6 and 320 pounds, averaged 4.4 points and 3.3 rebounds for the Red Foxes during the 2010-11 season.

“Watson was a Division I basketball player,” Fisher said. “He was 270 pounds and was a wing, not a post player. He wasn’t scoring with his back to the basket. He was making moves and driving to the basket.”

Because of his size, Watson figured he’d reached his ceiling as a basketball player. After briefly considering a professional boxing career, Watson enrolled at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., where he not only had to learn how to play offensive tackle but also the game’s rules. He played in eight games at Saddleback last season. The Gauchos’ other offensive tackle was Kyle Long, son of NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long, who signed with Oregon.

Watson still has a long way to go in his development, but he’ll probably compete with Glauser and sophomore Bobby Hart for the starting offensive tackle jobs this coming season. The Seminoles lost departed senior tackles Zebrie Sanders and Andrew Datko, who combined to play in 90 games in their FSU careers. Datko missed all of last season because of shoulder injuries and chose to turn pro, instead of appealing to the NCAA for another season of college eligibility.

Sophomores Austin Barron, Tre’ Jackson and Josue Matias, who started against Notre Dame at center, right guard and left guard, respectively, are coming back to compete in the middle of the offensive line. Cameron Erving, a converted defensive tackle, also will be in the tackle mix.

“I like the young guys,” Fisher said. “They’re all sophomores. They’re big and athletic. They actually know they can play with the way they came back [against Notre Dame]. They’re confident now. They don’t have to walk on the field and think, ‘Can I play?’ They know they can play.”

Right guard Bryan Stork said continuity and staying healthy are keys for FSU’s offensive line this coming season.

“Before you’re at the top, you’re always at the bottom,” Stork said. “I feel like we’re a diamond in the rough. We’ve got the guys. It’s just everybody getting better together.”

Notre Dame has been a thorn in the ACC's side since it beat Miami in last year's Sun Bowl and reeled off three straight wins against the league this year. Overall, though, Notre Dame is 1-3 against the ACC in postseason play. Here's a quick preview of Florida State's matchup against Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl:

WHO TO WATCH: Florida State’s defensive ends. The Seminoles’ defense has been outstanding this year, and it all starts up front. During the final seven regular-season games, Florida State racked up 22 sacks. This season, defensive end Brandon Jenkins has seven sacks and defensive end Bjoern Werner has six. FSU enters the bowl game No. 2 in the nation in rushing defense and held its final seven opponents to just 2.29 yards per carry. FSU is No. 9 in the nation in sacks and No. 5 in tackles for loss. Notre Dame is No. 17 in the country, though, in sacks allowed with just 1.08 per game.

WHAT TO WATCH: Florida State’s offensive line. It’s been the weak link this season, and as a result, the running game ranks No. 99 in the country and the Noles are No. 111 in sacks allowed. The Seminoles beat Florida in the regular-season finale with only 95 yards of total offense. They had four offensive touchdowns in the final three games, including just one against Miami and one against Virginia.

WHY TO WATCH: Because it’s the ACC’s best hope at a win over the Irish this year, and because it’s still Florida State and Notre Dame. Both programs had BCS bowl expectations heading into this season, but they are still two of nation’s most storied programs, rich in history and tradition. They haven’t played since 2003, when Florida State won 37-0 in South Bend. Notre Dame, though, has had the edge over the ACC this year, beating Wake Forest, Maryland and Boston College in a three-week span in November. Can the Noles stop that streak?

PREDICTION: Florida State 21, Notre Dame 17: This is significantly below the 30 points both teams are averaging this year, but Florida State’s defense will again be the difference. Even if the Noles can’t get things going again offensively, Florida State’s defense and special teams are good enough to offset it against the Irish. Notre Dame is No. 116 in the country in turnover margin, and Florida State is capable not only of forcing quarterback Tommy Rees into a turnover, but also of scoring on it.

Florida State’s defense was like a giant on Thursday night, and BC was swinging at its knees, hitting nothing but air for four quarters.

It’s still hard to believe this same Florida State team lost three games this year, though in retrospect, it can be rationalized. What’s done is done, and the Seminoles continued to state their case as one of the best teams in the ACC, regardless of their place in the standings.

For the fourth straight week, the Seminoles flat-out dominated, smothering Boston College from the very start with its pass rush in a 38-7 win. With a 2-7 record the Eagles will have their streak of 12 consecutive bowl games snapped, but after watching them play on Thursday night, it was clear that this year’s team isn’t bowl worthy. Florida State, though, earned its sixth win of the season and is guaranteed a spot in the postseason -- just not the one many had expected.

FSU quarterback EJ Manuel has received most of the attention for the Noles’ turnaround, but the defense has been simply outstanding. The Noles snagged four takeaways from BC, and three were very costly:

• Rolandan Finch fumbled in the first quarter and Telvin Smith recovered it at BC’s 2 yard line. The Noles took the 7-0 lead three plays later.
• With 43 seconds left in the half, it was second-and-goal from the 1 for BC when Finch was credited with another fumble and Bjoern Werner recovered it at his own 2. It wasn’t Finch’s fault, as inexperienced quarterback Josh Bordner bumbled the handoff.
• In the fourth quarter, Rettig was intercepted by Werner at the BC 36-yard line. FSU scored on the following possession for a 38-7 lead. (Werner, by the way, is playing his way into the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year conversation).

It was an ugly performance by BC, which was completely overwhelmed by Florida State. The Eagles, aside from Luke Kuechly’s ridiculous 20 tackles, simply had no answer. Again. With three games left and no bowl hopes remaining, BC will be playing for pride and for 2012 in the final three games.

Florida State? The Noles look like they’re playing for another top 10 preseason ranking.

With only five games this week, the math is easy: Two things to watch in each game. Here’s your top 10 in Week 10, in no particular order:

1. BC’s offensive line against Florida State’s defensive line. This could be the game-defining matchup, as the Eagles have been playing better up front in recent weeks and their running game has flourished as a byproduct, but Florida State’s defensive line has been flat-out dominant. The Noles are No. 3 in the country in sacks, and No. 8 in tackles for loss. Bjoern Werner (7.5) and Brandon Jenkins (6.5) lead the Seminoles in tackles for loss.

2. Young running backs in Chestnut Hill. For Florida State, Devonta Freeman has totaled 226 rushing yards in the past three games. He became the first freshman to rush for 100 yards in back-to-back games since Chris Parker in 1988. For Boston College, sophomore Rolandan Finch ran for 243 yards and two touchdowns in last weekend’s 28-17 victory over Maryland; prior to that, Finch had never surpassed the 100-yard mark. He has run for 81 or more yards in each of the past three games.

3. Quarterbacks in College Park. The saga continues, as Maryland coach Randy Edsall said on Wednesday’s ACC teleconference that both Danny O'Brien and C.J. Brown continue to compete and the Terps could “get in a situation where we play both of them, play one.” Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco, meanwhile, said this week he has benefited from the diminished role of true freshman David Watford, who was sharing the reps. Rocco took all but one snap in last weekend’s win at Miami.

4. Maryland’s run defense. The Terps enter this game with the nation’s No. 118 rushing defense, and Virginia’s ability to run the ball has been crucial to its success in this series. Virginia is 22-8 against Maryland since 1937 when gaining at least 150 rushing yards. UVa has rushed for at least 150 yards in seven of eight games in 2011. In last year’s loss, the Hoos ran for just 92.

5. NC State’s pass defense against UNC quarterback Bryn Renner. Renner is the ACC’s most efficient passer, but he will face a secondary that boasts the nation’s leader in interceptions in David Amerson, who has eight. Brandan Bishop has four. Renner has thrown nine interceptions this year to 19 touchdowns.

6. UNC tailback Giovani Bernard. He needs just 35 more yards to become the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Jonathan Linton in 1997. Bernard has 965 yards this year and leads all freshman runners in the country with 107.2 yards per game. He leads the ACC with 12 touchdowns. NC State’s rushing defense has been holding opponents to 160.1 yards per game.

7. Duke’s defense in the second half. The Blue Devils have allowed one second-half touchdown — a fourth-quarter score by Wake Forest — in their past two games, and held Virginia Tech scoreless last weekend for the entire second half. Safety Matt Daniels has defended 16 passes, second in both the ACC and the FBS.

8. Turnovers at Miami. The Hurricanes forced seven turnovers in last year’s victory over Duke, and the Blue Devils are coming off a loss to Virginia Tech in which they had four turnovers. Quarterback Sean Renfree has thrown four interceptions in the past two games, including three against the Hokies. Since the loss to Kansas State, Miami quarterback Jacory Harris has thrown 11 touchdowns to just one interception.

9. Wake Forest’s defensive line against Notre Dame’s offensive line. The Demon Deacons will have a definite size disadvantage, and the Irish went the whole month of October without allowing a sack. Notre Dame’s offense line averages 305.6 pounds; Wake Forest’s defensive front averages 247.5 pounds. Wake will have to put some pressure on Irish quarterback Tommy Rees to help disrupt a passing game targeted at one of the nation’s top receivers in Michael Floyd.

10. Wake Forest defensive back Merrill Noel. He leads the FBS in passes defended with 16, an average of 2.0 per game. The freshman only has one interception, but he’s been a major contributor to Wake’s defense and could play a crucial role in helping slow down Floyd, who is ninth nationally with 7.9 receptions per game.

You can almost still hear Florida State’s players exhale as they talk about NC State’s loss to Maryland last year. Had the Wolfpack won that regular-season finale against the Terps, NC State would have played for the ACC title instead of Florida State. The Seminoles know they snuck into last year’s title game.

This year, they’d like to use the front door.

“We, as players in the locker room, we know we made it really close last year and it could’ve been the other way around,” said FSU defensive end Bjoern Werner. “If NC State would’ve beaten Maryland, they would’ve gone to the ACC championship. We know that every game in the ACC is really important. We don’t want to make it tight like last year. Last year it wasn’t in our hands. It was in NC State’s hands and they lost. We were lucky to get in.”

As Florida State prepares to travel to Clemson on Saturday, it does so with a lesson learned from last year -- in order to control its own destiny, there is no margin for error. While it is still early in the schedule -- this is the first conference game for both teams -- it’s possible Saturday’s game in Death Valley will be wind up being the biggest game of consequence in the Atlantic Division race. Florida State and Clemson are the ACC’s only two ranked teams in the division, and they were picked by the media this summer to finish first and second, respectively, in the division standings. Saturday’s winner will be the undisputed frontrunner to win the division.

“Auburn was the national champion until someone beat them,” said Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. “We had our shot and it worked out. It’s the same with Florida State. They’re the Atlantic Division champions until someone beats them. They have the belt. They’ll have it until someone knocks them out.

“This is a big game,” he said. “It’s not the whole season -- if we win, we have to keep playing. Every game counts in conference play. The conference isn’t decided until the end of the season. But, the winner of this game has their hands on the steering wheel. From a big picture standpoint, this is a big game. We have to beat them no matter when we play them.”

Florida State has not won in Death Valley since 2001, but the Seminoles are an improving team. Florida State proved last Saturday that it had closed the gap with the No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in a 23-13 loss after losing 47-17 last season. Clemson is confident following its upset of Auburn and has seen its offense make noticeable strides over the past three weeks under first-year starting quarterback Tajh Boyd.

The strengths of both teams are opposites: Clemson’s defense hasn’t quite lived up to the billing, while the offense under first-year coordinator Chad Morris is No. 9 in the country. Florida State, meanwhile, has depended heavily on its defense, which is fifth in the country, but has yet to put together a complete performance offensively. Florida State enters Saturday’s game with the No. 100-ranked rushing offense in the country.

FSU running back Chris Thompson said the running game must improve if the Noles are going to repeat as division champs.

“I honestly think it’s going to have to be a whole lot better,” he said. “In order to win it all, we have to be great in our running game and passing game. If a team can just focus on thing, that makes it a lot easier for them.”

Clemson has found a way this season to spread the wealth to different playmakers, but Boyd and freshman receiver Sammy Watkins have stolen the show. Boyd said he and his teammates are well-aware that in retrospect, come November, this could be the game that determines the Atlantic Division winner.

“We see that too, as a team, and we’re preparing for it,” Boyd said. “It has to be a huge week for us. Everyone has to be focused.”

Boyd went so far as to say it’s bigger than last weekend’s game against Auburn.

“It’s the next big game, an ACC game, and we’ve got hopes of winning a conference championship,” Boyd said. “They do as well, so it’s definitely a big game.”

The ACC went 3-4 against its nonconference opponents this week, with wins over Cincinnati, East Carolina and BYU. Here's a look at your top-five performers from the ACC:

Virginia Tech: That's right, the whole team gets one this week for overcoming a 10-0 deficit at home against ECU and scoring 28 unanswered points in the second half -- without injured running back Ryan Williams, who pulled his hamstring in the second quarter. The Hokies are banged up, but they avoided an 0-3 start with a complete effort in the second half, winning 49-27.

NC State quarterback Russell Wilson: Rusty? Nah. Not this time. He threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-19 Thursday night win over Cincinnati. He completed 26 of 40 passes, including an 8-yard touchdown to Taylor Gentry with about 7½ minutes left to make it 30-7. He also ran for 33 yards.

NC State's defense. The Pack has shown measurable improvement. The Wolfpack finished with five sacks, hurried quarterback Zach Collaros four times and came up with a big fourth-and-1 stop in the fourth quarter. NC State is 3-0 for the first time in eight years.

Florida State's defense: The Seminoles showed some needed improvement in their 34-10 win over BYU. FSU's defense yielded only 191 total yards. The Seminoles had eight sacks; the most in a game since registering nine against Miami in 2005. FSU's top four defensive ends -- Markus White, Brandon Jenkins, Bjoern Werner and Dan Hicks -- combined for five sacks. The Noles had just four from the defensive end position last season.

Georgia Tech quarterback Joshua Nesbitt: He completed 75 percent of his passes (3 of 4), for 76 yards and a touchdown, and he ran for 104 yards and another touchdown on 26 carries in the 30-24 win over North Carolina. He also led the Jackets on a 44-yard scoring drive that ended in a field goal for the 27-24 lead.

The decision of five-star safety Demar Dorsey to attend Michigan could wind up being one of the biggest surprises of the day for the ACC. After decommitting from Florida last month, Florida State appeared to be the front-runner. Most folks, including our experts at Scouts Inc., thought that was where he was headed. Still, FSU has landed two outstanding prospects today in Christian Jones and Bjoern Werner.

Four-star defensive end Bjoern Werner was genuinely excited, and his interview was one of the more humbling for signing day, as he announced his decision to attend FSU. Werner is going to be a great story worth following, and you could tell by watching him just how much this meant to him. If there is a better interview today, I'd be surprised.

"I love the coaches, I love Coach [James] Coley, my recruiting coordinator, I love Coach [Jimbo] Fisher," he gushed.

He said he liked that FSU was on the East Coast, "closer to Germany," and his fiancée is excited about the move. He said his parents "don't really know what's going on here," and that they don't really understand American college football, or how big of a deal it all is.

They'll figure it out soon enough.

Defensive end Bjoern Werner has picked Florida State over Oregon and California.

Oregon likely will finish with a nationally ranked class, but it has struggled to sign marquee defensive linemen, a major need position for the 2010 Pac-10 favorite.

Meanwhile, Cal has already had a good day on defense.