Editors Note Backstory:So, its funny it panned out this way. For most of you that have been following me, know I ended my Georgia Tech Dynasty to create a new Dynasty with Florida State and I placed Tech's old Coach, Cameel Verner as Florida State's Head Coach. And I promoted the Offensive Coordinator of Georgia Tech Matteo Sledge as Head Coach of the Yellow Jackets. I honestly didnt think we would cross paths, not this quickly anyway. In my second year of my Florida State Dynasty, here we are. So, a little background of Georgia Tech's Coach Matteo Sledge. He was my Quarterback for Florida State back on the XBOX days on NCAA 06 back in 2005. He was a three year starter, and went on playing a few years in the NFL when I imported him to Madden. He was one of the fastest players I ever played with. He literally had a 99 in speed at Quarterback. His throwing power was 97 but accuracy was 74. But back then his speed was the difference.The two had a tremendous career together at Georgia Tech winning 4 championships. While at Georgia Tech, Verner had 8 straight #1 recruiting classes, so its safe to say Tech is loaded. And its crazy seeing the players I recruited on NextGen gameplay. Anyway, all these years later, Verner and Sledge cross paths. What a storyline right?

TEACHER VS STUDENT
Well. The stage is set. Teacher vs Student. Teammate vs Teammate. Both Georgia Tech Coach, Matteo Sledge, and Former Georgia Tech Head Coach, yet Current Florida State Head Coach Cameel Verner Sr played together at Florida State back in the early 2000s. And just 3 years ago, they were on the sideline together. Sledge was Verner's Offensive Coordinator for Florida State from 2020 to 2027. Sledge was apart of 4 National Championship teams with Verner as his Offensive Coordinator for the Yellow Jackets. Now the two will duel it out to see who comes out on top this time.
However, in just Verner's second season as Florida State's head Coach, it's safe to say his roster isn't filled with top tier talent from top to bottom like Georgia Tech is. While at Tech, Verner filled the Yellow Jackets roster with elite talent year in and year out. He had 8 straight #1 recruiting classes while at Georgia Tech. And he just finished last season with a #1 class with Florida State also. But alot of Verner's old players that are Juniors and Seniors are still currently on Georgia Tech's roster, which is a huge reason why Tech is 14-0 on the season currently with the talent gap they have to their disposal.
"Yeah, I still love every single person on that roster. Those are special kids. They know they are special kids. And as you can see, Matteo is taking very good care of them. I'm very proud of each and every one of them" Said Coach Verner.
If Florida State is to come out on top, they will definately have to deal with the Depth that Georgia Tech has. Florida State has a talented roster, but it's mostly top heavy as Coach Verner hasnt had the time yet to fully fill out his roster just yet. But as Coach Verner puts it, "It's go time". Verner is looking for his 7th National Championship which would be an NCAA record. Matteo Sledge, is looking for his 1st as a Head Coach, but 5th overall.

PLAYERS FAMILIARITY
Coach Verner knew he needed a bit of help this year in order to compete at an elite level. And he used the transfer portal to his advantage. Three former Georgia Tech players are currently on Florida States roster. And it's probably not ironic that all three are starters. Senior LB Akeem Austin who has 68 tackles on the season and 7 sacks, Redshirt Junior LB Rashad McCullough who is second on the team in Tackles with 94, and Junior WR Carmelo Clancy has over 400 yards recieving for the Noles this season have all played pivotal roles for the Seminoles this year. While Austin a former three-star prospect, and McCullough a formver Five-Star prospect's careers at Georgia Tech didnt quite flourish like they wanted it to, they have really flourished this season with the Seminoles. And Carmelo Clancy, has always been the underdog. A former three-star from Brooklyn,NY has played 3 different positions for Coach Verner at FSU and Georgia Tech. Clancy moved from Running Back to Defensive Back at Georgia Tech where he claimed All-Conference honors at that position. Now at Florida State he's the starting slot WR for the Seminoles.
"We know all those guys over there very well. We competed with them in practice every day, and went to war with them in a lot of games. So we know the mentality they are going to bring. If we dont bring our A Game then it will be over with quickly because bringing their A Game is all they know." Said WR Carmelo Clancy
Senior LB Akeem Austin added "I spent 4 years there. I love that school with all my heart. And I've played in 2 National Championships there. This will be my third. So I know exactly what they are going through right now mentally preparing for us. They are going to bring nothing but the absolute best. And we have to match that."
While two of the former players were laser focused, Middle Linebacker Rashad McCullough who was a Five-Star recruit for the Yellow Jackets who had a rich history of injuries while enrolled, had a different approach "Man, I havent hit any of those guys in a long long time" He said with a laugh. "Monday can't get here fast enough. I just ready to play man. I'm just ready to play."
As you can see, this will be one for the ages.
Key Matchups
Georgia Tech easily has the most loaded roster in the country. It currently has 62 Four or Five Star players combined on its current roster. All of them are big, fast, and intelligent. QB Weldon Plante (6'5" , 220) leads the charge on offense, and the former #1 recruit in the country RB Doom Murphy (5'11' 227) who ran wild on the West Virginia defense in the semi-finals makes life a lot easier for Plante.
Georgia Tech also has a host of former Five-Star receivers on the outside, Bilitnetkoff award winner WR Travyione Ball (5'9" 200) leads the Tech receivers this year, along with the bigger wide outs WR Tyson Buckner (6'5" 195) and WR Dylan Busch (6'4" 218) who had a game high 123 yards receiving on 6 catches against the Mountaineers. Former Five-Star Tight End and former Basketball player Deshawn Bratcher (6'8 240) causes a ton of mismatches for teams also with his size, and athletic ability.
Defensively , the Yellow Jackets are huge, and they still run the 3-3-5 defense that Verner implemented while there, and the same defense he runs at Florida State. Junior DE Rohan Malice Jr (6'6" 300) is pegged as a 1st Round Pick, Senior DE Camden Bracken (6'4" 295) and another projected First round Pick Junior NT Jamarcus June (6'6" 363) are the 3 man front for the Jackets. Rohan Malice Jr's dad, Rohan Malice Sr, is the Defensive Line Coach currently for the Seminoles.
At Linebacker, Tech is led by Junior LB Trinidad Pierre-Ohakim (6'4" 245) and former Five-Star LB Junior Devon Hall (6'4" 250). JR LB Olanis Trahan(6'5" 265) finishes out the LB corps and is the pass rushing specialist for the Yellow Jackets, and he had 2 sacks in the Semi-Finals vs West Virginia.
Joqauin Hansah-Bello is a freak of nature at Cornerback. The Junior CB at 6'3" 220 is a DB that NFL Coaches cannot wait to get their hands on in this years draft. And his former High School teammate, DB Santana Dexter (6'4" 225) leads the back end for the Jackets at Safety. Former Five-Star DB Medarius Myles (6'1" 227) also will roam the secondary for the Yellow Jackets.
As you can see, they are an abnormaly large team. But FSU has been the hottest team in the country as of late and coaching has reigned surpreme all year. But have the Seminoles met a team that are just way too talented to over come? Only time will tell.
Comment