Florida International versus Akron Preview

Offensive Key Players:

Florida International:

• T.Y. Hilton, WR, Sr.—This senior wide receiver is one of the most dynamic playmakers in all of college football. He was hampered by an injury in the UCF game and was not at his best in the UCF or Lafayette games. In the games at full health, he had receiving totals of 132 yards, 201 yards, and 102 yards with 4 touchdowns. He is also averaging 37.4 yards per kickoff return on the season.
• Wesley Carroll, QB, Sr.—This senior quarterback is putting up solid numbers on the season except for the Lafayette game in which he left injured. He came back in full force versus Duke in a loss throwing for a career high 348 yards and 3 touchdowns. So far on the season, he has not thrown an interception.

Akron:

• Clayton Moore, QB, So.—The sophomore quarterback has looked better and better as the season has progressed. Moore’s completion percentage is below expectations at 47.7% for the season but Moore did get his 2^nd 50% passing game of the season in the week 5 loss to EMU. Moore has thrown 5 touchdowns and 5 interceptions with no interceptions in the last two games. He has also been sacked 18 times on the year.
• Jawon Chisholm, RB, Fr.—The freshman running back has wrestled control of the running game with three straight 100+ yard games getting over 20 carries per game after only getting 25 total carries in the first 2 games of the season.
• Keith Sconiers, WR, So.—The sophomore wide receiver is the leading pass catcher for the Zips in 2011. After not playing in the season opener versus Ohio State, Sconiers has averaged 6 catches and 105 yards in the 4 games he has played. Sconiers has also found the end zone 4 times with 2 coming versus I-AA VMI.
  

Defensive Key Players:

FIU:

• Winston Fraser, LB, Jr.—Fraser is the leading tackler for the Golden Panther defense with 47 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and one interception which he returned 71 yards for a touchdown. He is the heart and soul of a defense that has been up and down in 2011.
• Jordan Hunt, LB, Jr.—The second leading tackler has 38 tackles to go with 4.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack. He is playing solid defense at the linebacker spot and has had at least 6 tackles in every game this season with a season high of 11 tackles versus UCF.

Akron:

• Brian Wagner, LB, Jr.—Wagner is the leading tackler for the Zips with 59 tackles and 1 forced fumble on the season. He is coming off back to back 130+ tackle seasons. He has put up 10+ tackles in every  game of the season except for Temple with a season high 17 coming versus EMU in the week 5 loss.
• Jamar Williams, LB, Fr.—Williams is a true freshman and the second leading tackler on the Zips squad with 30 tackles on the season. He also has 1 tackle for loss, 1 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble.

Key Battles:

Clayton Moore versus FIU secondary: After giving up no more than 248 yards in the air in any game this season, the Golden Panther secondary was scorched for 392 yards and 3 touchdowns by a Duke offense that has not looked overly impressive in 2011. This gives an opening for Moore to use the instability and second guessing in the FIU secondary for a big passing game this week. Duke showed how to exploit the FIU defense and it will be up to Moore and the Zips offense to make big plays.

T.Y. Hilton versus everyone: Hilton is the do everything star for the Golden Panthers and will have to be accounted for in the passing game as well as in special teams. He has an incredible knack to make big plays and put the ball in the end zone. Hilton was the Sun Belt MVP in 2010 and looks to be the favorite to win that award again in 2011.

How FIU will win: Getting the ball to Hilton and letting him work his magic and score touchdowns for the Golden Panthers. Hilton is by far the best player and will get the ball via special teams, receiving, reverses and even may line up in the backfield in a wildcat type of formation. How Akron will be able to account for Hilton is the #1 key to the game.

How Akron will win: Keeping Hilton from having a big game. Allow the other role players to have chances to win the game but limit Hilton from being a game changer as he was in the upset win versus Louisville. If he has a bad game, the offense will struggle. Lots of double coverage and bracketing of Hilton using the linebackers and safeties will be the most likely way of covering Hilton.

FIU is a very talented and fast team that can use its athleticism to make big plays and force one on one matchup that are in its favor for big plays. The ability of Hilton to constantly make plays while being double and triple covered has NFL scouts projecting him as a Desean Jackson type of player at the next level. Akron will have to pull out every stop to keep Hilton from controlling this game and will be successful to an extent. Akron should be able to move the ball with some regularity but must convert 3^rd downs and keep the FIU offense off of the field for extended periods of time.  This will give Akron a chance to show how the lower level MAC teams stack against the upper level Sun Belt teams.