No. 3 Hurricanes Know They Must Tackle Seminoles RB Kromah
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It has
been said by many, including Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal, that
the Florida State-Miami game is “the best rivalry in college football.”
The No. 3
Hurricanes have one of the more complete teams in college football, ranked No.
1 in total offense and scoring offense.
In addition, they are No. 1 in rushing
defense. Miami has allowed zero games over 100 yards rushing this season, 42
yards rushing per game, and only one rushing touchdown this season.
That lone rushing
touchdown was allowed in Miami’s win over Clemson, a game in which the Tigers
rushed for only 55 yards.
The
Hurricanes, as dominant as they are, recognize that Florida State running back
Ousmane Kromah is a great football talent, and that he must be stopped.
Miami
linebacker Mohamed Toure commented on Kromah in the media availability Wednesday.
“He has
gotten light years better and is going to be a challenge,” said Toure. “We have
to make sure we tackle him.”
That is
good strategy, considering that Kromah leads the nation in forced missed
tackles. Kromah is No. 2 in the ACC in rushing yards with 565 yards, and No. 3
in the conference in rushing yards per game with 94 yards per game.
In the
44-20 loss to Louisville, Kromah rushed for 88 yards but did not find the end
zone.
Kromah has not scored a rushing touchdown in two weeks, not since scoring
two in the win over Central Arkansas.
Last
season, in a loss to Miami, Kromah was held to just 23 yards on six carries and
no touchdowns.
As +21.5-point
underdogs, Florida State coach Mike Norvell will have to call the game of his
coaching career.
Norvell must utilize every weapon he has and call plays in a
balanced attack if Florida State is to have any chance of winning this game.
The
offensive line will have to create a clean pocket for quarterback Ashton Daniels
and clear running lanes for Kromah.
Daniels has 10 rushing touchdowns this
season, but the Seminoles cannot afford to be one-dimensional against a team
like Miami.
If Kromah
can run to the second level of Miami’s defense, it could open up the passing game
for Florida State and their talented trio of receivers: 6-foot-6 Duce Robinson,
Jayvan Boggs, and Micahi Danzy.
Miami owns
a 37-33 record in this rivalry. The Hurricanes have won the last two meetings,
and six of the last ten.
During that time, Florida State has won on the road
against Miami only twice: in 2022 and 2016.
If Kromah can cause the Hurricanes
some missed tackles, maybe the third time is the charm for Florida State.
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