Florida State offensive tackle Cam Erving got the best of Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley last season -- to the point that Beasley was talking about this season's matchup with Erving more than two weeks ago.
Beasley (6-foot-3, 235 pounds), a senior, led the ACC and was third nationally last season with 13 sacks. But he struggled against Erving, who held him to zero sacks and just two tackles in FSU's 51-14 demolition.
"Oh, yeah, I've been waiting on that opportunity," Beasley told The Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier on Sept. 2. "I love going against the best. He did pretty well on me last year. So, definitely, I'm looking forward to that matchup."
Erving (6-6, 308), also a senior, says he has a healthy respect for Beasley.
"It's always fun to go against a great competitor such as Vic," Erving told reporters this week. "I mean, there was a lot of competition last year. He got me a few times. He didn't get to the quarterback, but a couple more seconds here or there and he could have."
Erving also said, "I feel like going against better competition always brings out the best in you. Me, personally, that's how I definitely feel, so I'm looking forward to the challenge."
Their matchup features two potential first-round picks (though it seems a certainty Beasley will be drafted as an outside linebacker), and that will make it a must-watch battle for scouts.
FSU coach Jimbo Fisher is a Beasley fan.
"He's a very instinctive football player," Fisher said in his weekly news conference. "Not only quick but powerful, can change direction. He's got body quickness, can run. He can rush the passer and he can play the run; he can transition speed into power very quickly. He's relentless. Stand up, get down, move around -- very good football player."
Scouts will watch some interior linemen, too, with Clemson senior defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (6-0, 290) and FSU senior guards Tre Jackson (6-4, 330) and Josue Matias (6-6, 325) drawing their attention. Jackson and Matias will be making their 32nd career starts; Jarrett will be making his 27th. That those players have played against each other for so long adds to the matchup, Fisher said at his news conference.
"It becomes very challenging in a lot of ways," he said. "Very rarely does a lineman start for three years or four years. It can become a chess match, to a point, on how things go, learning each other and studying each other. But there is also a great ... level of respect once you played against guys that long."
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has similar thoughts.
"You've got experience on experience, and that's a great matchup to watch," he told reporters.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
