Player Focus: Nate Andrews

The Florida State secondary is traditionally one of the most feared groups of defensive backs in the country. Since his freshman season in 2013, Nate Andrews has played a key role in continuing the tradition of names like Deion Sanders, Terrell Buckley, and Xavier Rhodes, among many others. During his two seasons as the Seminoles' #29, Andrews has intercepted more passes than any other player on the team.

The 5'11", 204-pound defensive back from Fairhope, Alabama is one of seven defensive starters returning to the team in 2015. Andrews has seen time in all 28 games that the 'Noles have played in during his career and started all but one game last season. On top of leading the team in interceptions each year with 7 total, he has recorded 128 total tackles, his career high (12) coming against Boston College last season.

Comparison: Andrews is a Tyrann Matheiu-type player without all of the hype. Simply put, Andrews is a quiet but effective play-maker with a nose for the ball. In his career at Florida State, he has forced 11 turnovers and recovered 3 fumbles.

Career Day: In his first career start vs Wake Forest in 2013, Nate Andrews started a feeding frenzy where the Seminole defense forced the Demon Deacons into committing 5 turnovers in the first half. Andrews was responsible for two interceptions and a forced fumble, two of those turnovers being returned for touchdowns. Andrews also recorded a tackle in that dominating visit to Winston-Salem. The Noles won the game 59-3.

Best Moment: Early in the 2014 season opener against Oklahoma State in Jerry World, Andrews dropped back into a pass from Cowboy quarterback J.W. Walsh, tipped it to himself and walked it into the end zone for a touchdown. The 'Noles needed every point they could get to start off the season 1-0.

Quick Background Fact: Florida State was the first school to offer Andrews. He would later decommit from Minnesota to the Seminoles, choosing FSU over Alabama, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, among others.

This year, Nate Andrew's will be one of the leaders on this defense, a defense that looks to redeem itself from last year's struggles. The secondary has some major shoes to fill considering P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby left for the NFL. Despite not having ideal size or athleticism, he is a major force on this defense and will need to step up along with fellow play maker Jalen Ramsey and a series of young, relatively inexperienced players.